CANADA HISTORY - Prime Ministers

Jean Chretien


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Jean Chrétien, often referred to as "the little guy from Shawinigan," is one of Canada’s most enduring and successful politicians. His political career, which spanned over four decades, was marked by his deep involvement in Liberal administrations dating back to Lester B. Pearson’s government. Chrétien's legacy includes his role in bringing the Constitution home to Canada and his unprecedented three consecutive majority government victories in modern Canadian politics. His longevity and influence cement him as one of the most significant political figures in Canada's recent history.

Born on January 11, 1934, in Shawinigan, Quebec, Chrétien was the 18th of 19 children born to Marie Boisvert and Wellie Chrétien, a paper mill machinist. His early life was marked by the harsh realities of rural Quebec, including high child mortality rates—tragically, 10 of his siblings died in infancy. Despite these challenges, Chrétien thrived in his large, tight-knit family, where he learned the value of hard work and perseverance. From a young age, Chrétien displayed a keen interest in politics. Growing up in Quebec, this naturally led him to the Liberal Party, which dominated the province's political landscape. By his teenage years, Chrétien had already immersed himself in party activities, working tirelessly for local Liberal candidates and members of Parliament.

Chrétien's political ambitions were bolstered by his academic pursuits. He attended Laval University in Quebec, where he studied law and became the president of the university’s Liberal Club. His leadership and political instincts began to shine through during these formative years, and he graduated with a law degree in 1958. Returning to his hometown of Shawinigan, Chrétien opened a law practice, where he honed his legal skills while continuing to build connections within the Liberal Party.

His big break came in 1963 when Chrétien decided to run for Parliament in the riding of Saint-Maurice-Laflèche, a predominantly French-speaking constituency. Despite having little command of English at the time, Chrétien won the election and entered Parliament, initially focused on advocating for French Canadian rights. However, Chrétien quickly realized that representing his riding meant understanding and advocating for all Canadians, and he adopted a pragmatic and hard-working approach to politics. His efforts soon caught the attention of the Liberal leadership.

In 1965, Chrétien was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, a position that allowed him to gain valuable insight into the workings of the federal government. The following year, he became Parliamentary Secretary to Mitchell Sharp, the Minister of Finance, giving him exposure to the budgetary and economic complexities of governing. When Pierre Trudeau succeeded Pearson as Liberal leader and Prime Minister in 1968, Chrétien’s star continued to rise. He was appointed Minister of National Revenue, marking his first cabinet position.

Trudeau called an election for June 1968, and after securing a majority government, he appointed Chrétien as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. It was in this role that Chrétien encountered the immense challenges faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada. In 1969, he oversaw the release of a controversial White Paper that proposed the abolition of the Indian Act and a complete overhaul of Canada's approach to Indigenous issues. The recommendations were met with fierce resistance from Indigenous leaders and communities, and the White Paper was eventually abandoned. However, the experience taught Chrétien valuable lessons about bureaucratic inertia, entrenched interests, and the complexities of pushing through reform.

Chrétien became a trusted advisor to Trudeau, particularly during moments of national crisis. In 1970, during the October Crisis, Chrétien played a pivotal role in encouraging Trudeau to invoke the War Measures Act to address the FLQ (Front de libération du Québec) threat, which included kidnappings and terrorist activities aimed at Quebec’s independence. Chrétien's steady hand and loyalty earned him further promotions within the government. In 1974, he became President of the Treasury Board, followed by his appointment as Minister of Industry, Trade, and Commerce in 1976.

As the 1970s drew to a close, Chrétien took on the crucial role of Minister of Justice and Attorney General in 1980, just as Quebec was gearing up for a referendum on sovereignty. He played a central role in the federal government's strategy during the referendum, which ultimately resulted in a victory for the federalist side. Following this, Chrétien was deeply involved in the process of patriating the Canadian Constitution, one of the most significant achievements of the Trudeau years. In 1982, the Constitution was brought home from Britain, complete with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, solidifying Chrétien’s legacy as a key architect of modern Canada.

Despite his close relationship with Trudeau, Chrétien found himself at odds with the Liberal establishment in 1984 when Trudeau retired. The party favored John Turner as Trudeau’s successor, and Chrétien lost the leadership race. Although Turner appointed him to senior cabinet positions, tensions between the two men persisted, and Chrétien eventually decided to leave politics in 1986, entering the private sector.

Chrétien spent the next few years working in the corporate world and writing his memoirs, but his political ambitions were far from over. When Turner stepped down in 1989, Chrétien returned to the fray, winning the leadership of the Liberal Party in a tightly contested race against Paul Martin. Chrétien’s opposition to the Meech Lake Accord—a failed constitutional agreement intended to bring Quebec into the Constitution—cost him support in Quebec, but it aligned him with the Trudeau legacy of strong federalism.

Chrétien was re-elected to Parliament in a 1990 by-election for the riding of Beauséjour, New Brunswick. His return to politics came at a time when the Mulroney government was deeply unpopular, particularly due to the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the failure of both the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords. Chrétien capitalized on the growing discontent, rebuilding the Liberal Party and preparing for a major electoral comeback.

In 1993, with Brian Mulroney stepping down and Kim Campbell becoming the first woman Prime Minister, Chrétien sensed an opportunity. His campaign focused on the now-famous "Red Book," a detailed platform that promised reform of the GST, a re-examination of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and fiscal responsibility to eliminate Canada’s growing deficit. The campaign was also marked by a controversial Conservative attack ad that mocked Chrétien’s facial paralysis, a move that backfired and garnered public sympathy for Chrétien. On October 25, 1993, Chrétien led the Liberals to a landslide victory, winning 177 seats in the House of Commons.

Once in power, Chrétien set to work tackling Canada’s $42 billion deficit. Appointing Paul Martin as Minister of Finance, Chrétien’s government implemented deep cuts to social programs, reduced transfer payments to the provinces, and maximized tax revenues. By 1998, the deficit had been eliminated, and Canada began paying down its national debt. The government’s fiscal turnaround became one of Chrétien’s hallmark achievements.

In 1995, Chrétien faced another critical moment in his career: Quebec held a second referendum on sovereignty. The federalist side narrowly won by less than 1%, but the close result shocked Chrétien and spurred him to introduce the Clarity Act, which stipulated that any future referendum on sovereignty must have a clear question and a clear majority for separation. The Clarity Act was upheld by the Supreme Court and remains a key piece of legislation in Canada’s constitutional framework.

Despite some challenges, including a resurgence of right-wing politics under the Canadian Alliance led by Stockwell Day, Chrétien continued to maintain popular support. In 2000, Chrétien called a snap election, capitalizing on the fractured state of the right-wing parties, and secured a third consecutive majority government.

However, Chrétien’s last term was marred by controversy, particularly over the Sponsorship Scandal, which involved allegations of corruption in a federal program intended to promote Canadian unity in Quebec. Although Chrétien himself was not found guilty of any wrongdoing, the scandal tarnished his government’s reputation. Pressure within the party to step down mounted, and in December 2003, Chrétien retired, handing over leadership to Paul Martin, who succeeded him as Prime Minister.

In his post-political life, Chrétien has remained a prominent figure within the Liberal Party, serving as a senior statesman and advisor. Despite the challenges and controversies he faced, Chrétien’s legacy as one of Canada’s most successful Prime Ministers is firmly secured, with his fiscal reforms, constitutional achievements, and leadership during critical moments in Canadian history standing as testament to his enduring influence.




Cite Article : Reference: www.canadahistory.com/sections/documents/documents.html

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