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When he arrived back in Canada, Trudeau drifted from job to job, editing a political science magazine, teaching constitutional law at the University of Montreal and acting as a labor lawyer. Then, three years ago, he entered politics and won a parliamentary seat from an English-speaking constituency in Montreal. "After 15 years in the role of critic," he explained, "I think it's time to go out and try to do the job myself."
Devotion to Work. As Pearson's choice in the Justice Ministry, Trudeau distinguished himself as a brilliant administrator who—despite his playboy reputation—maintained an ascetic devotion to work. He drafted massive criminal code reforms, liberalizing divorce and abortion laws and legalizing homosexual acts between consenting adults. He also drew up most of the agenda for last February's constitutional conference in Ottawa, aimed at resolving French-English differences.
Trudeau could technically delay elections until the parliamentary term expires in 1970, but he is eager to challenge the opposition Tories, who also have a new leader in Nova Scotia's dour Robert Stanfield, 53. Thus, Trudeau is expected to dissolve Parliament by September and go to the country in an effort to win his own majority and a full five-year term for himself.