C
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CANADA AND THE US :
25-30 SEPTEMBER, GENERAL BRIEF: CANADA
DSR 11C
INTRODUCTION
1.' The Prime Minister is visiting Canada in response to
that
h
an invitation from- Mr Trudeau extended at the time of
patriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982. Mrs
Thatcher's standing in Canada is high. She can expect a
warm welcome, particularly in Ontario and Alberta. The
invitation to address Parliament is Ottawa is an honour
reserved for major world leaders and the event will be of
some national importance for the Canadians. (The last
British Prime Minister to make a similar speech was Mr
MacMillan in 1958).
2. Mr Trudeau has taken a keen personal interest in the
arrangements for the Prime Minister's visit and will
probably accompany her to Ontario and Alberta. However,
he may be nearing the end of his time as Canadian Leader.
After dominating Canadian politics for 15 years his
political standing has declined seriuosly in the last
year or so, and his government's popularity has suffered
greatly from the effects of the economic recession.
commentators think he may stand down in the next few
months in order to allow his successor time to establish
himself before the next General Election which is due in
February 1985 at the latest, but which might be held in
June 1984.
Many
CONFIDENTIAL