What is the significance of Trudeau's government in Canadian symbols?

Pierre Elliott Trudeau's government, in office from 1968 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1984, reshaped the symbolic vocabulary of Canada through three landmark actions: the Official Languages Act of 1969, the multiculturalism policy of 1971, and the patriation of the Constitution with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. The Maple Leaf flag itself had been adopted in 1965 under Trudeau's Liberal predecessor Lester B. Pearson, and Trudeau's government inherited the flag and made the country it represented fully sovereign in law.

The Official Languages Act of September 9, 1969 made English and French equal official languages of the federal government, courts, and federally regulated industries. It created the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and embedded bilingualism into Canadian institutions. Multiculturalism within a bilingual framework, announced on October 8, 1971, made Canada the first country in the world to adopt an official multiculturalism policy.

Patriation of the Constitution on April 17, 1982 was Trudeau's signature achievement. Queen Elizabeth II signed the Proclamation of the Constitution Act on Parliament Hill, ending the legal need to pass amendments through the British Parliament. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms entered into force on the same day, introducing new symbolic anchors of Canadian identity: section 15 equality rights, section 27 multiculturalism, and section 35 Aboriginal rights.

Trudeau's government also created Petro-Canada (1975), introduced the National Film Board's Studio D (the world's first publicly funded feminist film studio, 1974), commissioned the Canadarm (delivered to NASA in 1981), and oversaw the Order of Canada's expansion. After leaving office Trudeau remained a visible national figure until his death on September 28, 2000, and his state funeral drew national television coverage normally reserved for sovereigns.