Lester B Pearson Essay

Lester Pearson is considered one of the best out of the 23 Canadian Prime Ministers. Why? Lester B Pearson is one of the best Prime Ministers in Canadian history. He was one of the two Prime Ministers who were active and served in war and is one of the three Prime Ministers who had an airport named after. Lester Bowles “Mike” Pearson had served from April 22, 1963, to April 20, 1968. The Pearson Airport was named in honor of Lester B. Pearson. He was a good Prime Minister because he contributed significantly to Canada during his time. He worked hard to improve the overall conditions of Canada and neighboring countries. He had introduced the universal health care system, Canada’s new maple leaf flag, and won the noble prize for the Suez

Canal Crisis.
In the 1920’s many Canadians were complaining that they were having difficulties paying their medical bills. As a result, in 1961 all provinces had hospitals in their plan and 99% of the population was covered. Emmett Hall chairman of a royal commission on health services had suggested a medicare for all of Canada. Based on this report, Lester B. Pearson stated that he would have a federal medicare system by 1967 in Canada. He selected Allan J. MacEachan, as the new Minister of National Health and Welfare. An important part of his argument was: “The government of Canada believes that all Canadians should be able to obtain health services of high quality according to their need for such services and irrespective of their ability to pay. We believe that the only practical and effective way of doing this is through a universal, prepaid, government-sponsored scheme” (Historymuseum, April 21 2010). He had faced some obstacles for this process, because not all provinces were willing to cooperate with this plan. But he had overcome this obstacle, and had all provinces and territories join in by 1972. Now it can be seen how the same medicare system provides an equal opportunity for all Canadian citizens to seek medical assistance regardless of their social class.
Before our maple leaf flag, Canada did not have its own distinctive flag, but rather had a British ensign on its flag.

That ensign on the flag demonstrated that Canada was still in connection with Britain. The flag consisted of Union Jack on the top inner corner, which is the flag of United Kingdom. The federal government attempted to create their own design a couple of times, but no mutual decision could be reached. Lester B. Pearson had raised the topic of creating a new design for the flag in 1960. However many Canadians opposed this because they were attached to the British Ensign. Finally in 1964, Alan B. Beddoe made a flag with three maple leaves between blue borders and showed it to Lester Pearson. Pearson was pleased with the design and presented it to the parliament. The parliament all indeed agreed to a new flag, but could not decide on a design. Therefore they gave the task of finding a new design to an all-party Parliamentary committee. This committee received over 3000 designs and then narrowed it down to 3 final designs. It was the red, maple leaf on a white square between two red borders which was recommended by the committee. On December 15, 1964 the motion to have this design as the national flag of Canada was passed. Despite the fact it was the committee designing the flag, it was Lester B. Pearson that gave the initial idea that Canada needs its own flag. This was a very significant milestone in Canadian history because this flag gave Canada its own identity and independence. “The flag is the symbol of the nation’s unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion,” declared the Speaker of the Senate at the Inauguration of the new flag in 1965”(Government of Canada, May 6 2016). The chosen flag was picked for its easily recognizable design because it was simple, Canada’s official national colours were used in it, the maple leaf was used as a logo for Canadian

troops and athletes that were abroad, and the symbol of Canadian identity and pride was the maple leaf. Today Canadians are proud to represent this flag everywhere as it signifies our own identity.
He had a significant role in the Suez crisis which he won a noble prize for. “Suez Crisis was a military and political confrontation in Egypt that threatened to divide the United States and Great Britain” (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). The Suez Canal connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, it was built by the French and British through the use of Egyptian workers. It was later taken over by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. This had annoyed the British governments because it was used as a route for oil transportation, if the oil transportation was stopped it would affect the British economy. So then Israel, Britain, and France decided to secretly attack without notifying United States or the other NATO allies. The US had warned Britain to back down and not try to cause a problem, but the British continued. He was Canada’s secretary of state for external affairs. He had thought of the idea to have a diplomatic solution for the crisis. But when that failed, he and his colleagues at the UN, “developed the idea for the UN’s first, large scale peacekeeping force” (thecanadianencyclopedia). Lester B. Pearson’s peacekeeping idea had allowed Britain, France, and Israel to back off without giving the impression that they have been defeated. The development of this gave Canada the reputation of a peace maker.
Lester B. Pearson won the noble prize for the Suez Canal Crisis, introduced universal medicare, and further provided Canada with a new flag. Lester B. Pearson not only achieved things for Canada but also helped resolve issues internationally. For example, the Suez Crisis was a time where tensions were growing between Great Britain and United States. At this time, Lester Pearson was the one to come forward with the idea to seek peace. Now within Canada he came up with the universal medicare and the new maple leaf flag. Millions of lives are treated with medical attention for free regardless of their income through taxes which are paid by everyone. Canada can thank Lester B. Pearson for giving Canadians a new unique identity through the new maple leaf flag. Therefore, for all these reasons Lester Bowles Pearson is one of the greatest Prime Ministers in Canadian history.