Montreal-Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport
So, I was buying my flight ticket to return to the great city of Montreal, when I noticed that Dorval International Airport is now known as Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau (PET) International Airport. My parents told me about this in January 2004, when the name change was official, but I'd completely forgotten about it until a few days ago.
I got the same reaction I did last year. Why did the name need to be changed, and (more importantly) why did the new name have to be the man who enacted the War Measures Act in Quebec? I understand that Pierre-Elliott Trudeau was a popular and charismatic Prime Minister (he was in office for 16 years), but his popularity within Quebec is far from widespread... so what gives?
Don't get me wrong, I'd be just as weirded out if the new name had been Maurice Duplessis International Airport (the man gave Quebec its flag, of which I'm as proud of as the Canadian flag, but his policies towards the handicapped were horrible) or Mulroney International Airport. I mean, Trudeau wanted to SHUT DOWN Dorval Airport in favor of Mirabel - which is now only used for cargo and charter flight and is about as significant as the Olympic Stadium, a veritable white elephant - and now his name is on the airport people will actually be using. I just don't get it...
Any other Montrealers have an opinion on this? I know it's an old issue, but living in Japan cut me off from stuff like that.
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