Jean Chrétien facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien PC OM CC KC
Chrétien in 1993
20th Prime Minister of Canada
In office November 4, 1993 – December 12, 2003
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Ray Hnatyshyn Roméo LeBlanc Adrienne Clarkson
Deputy	Sheila Copps Herb Gray John Manley
Preceded by	Kim Campbell
Succeeded by	Paul Martin
Senior political offices Leader of the Opposition In office December 10, 1990 – November 4, 1993 Preceded by Herb Gray Succeeded by Lucien Bouchard Leader of the Liberal Party In office June 23, 1990 – November 14, 2003 Preceded by John Turner Succeeded by Paul Martin
Ministerial offices 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Canada In office June 30, 1984 – September 17, 1984 Prime Minister John Turner Preceded by Allan MacEachen Succeeded by Erik Nielsen Secretary of State for External Affairs In office June 30, 1984 – September 17, 1984 Prime Minister John Turner Preceded by Allan MacEachen Succeeded by Joe Clark Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources In office September 10, 1982 – June 30, 1984 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Marc Lalonde Succeeded by Gerald Regan Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada In office March 3, 1980 – September 16, 1982 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Jacques Flynn Succeeded by Mark MacGuigan Minister of Finance In office September 16, 1977 – June 3, 1979 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Donald Stovel Macdonald Succeeded by John Crosbie Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce In office September 14, 1976 – September 15, 1977 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Don Jamieson Succeeded by Jack Horner President of the Treasury Board In office August 8, 1974 – September 13, 1976 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Charles Drury Succeeded by Bob Andras Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development In office July 6, 1968 – August 7, 1974 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Arthur Laing Succeeded by Judd Buchanan Minister of National Revenue In office January 18, 1968 – July 5, 1968 Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Edgar Benson Succeeded by Jean-Pierre Côté Minister without portfolio In office April 4, 1967 – January 17, 1968 Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
Parliamentary offices Member of Parliament for Beauséjour In office December 10, 1990 – October 25, 1993 Preceded by Fernand Robichaud Succeeded by Fernand Robichaud Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice (Saint-Maurice—Laflèche; 1963–1968) In office October 25, 1993 – December 12, 2003 Preceded by Denis Pronovost Succeeded by Constituency abolished In office April 8, 1963 – February 27, 1986 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Gilles Grondin
Personal details
Born	Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien (1934-01-11) January 11, 1934 (age 91) Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Aline Chaîné ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 2020)​
Children	3, including France Chrétien Desmarais
Relatives	Michel Chrétien (brother) Raymond Chrétien (nephew)
Alma mater	Université Laval
Occupation	Lawyer politician
Signature

Jean Chrétien was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served as the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003. Before that, he was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1990 to 2003. He also led the Official Opposition in Parliament from 1990 to 1993.

Born in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Chrétien studied law at Université Laval. He became a Liberal Member of Parliament in 1963. He held many important jobs in the government under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. These roles included Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, President of the Treasury Board, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Justice. As Justice Minister, Chrétien helped bring the Canadian Constitution home to Canada and create the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In 1984, he tried to become the leader of the Liberal Party but lost to John Turner. Chrétien then served as Deputy Prime Minister in Turner's short-lived government. He left politics for a while in 1986. After the Liberals lost another election in 1988, Chrétien returned to politics. He won the party leadership in 1990 and became the leader of the Opposition.

In the 1993 election, Chrétien led the Liberals to a big win, forming a majority government. He won two more majority governments in 1997 and 2000. When he became prime minister, Canada was facing a large national debt. His government worked to cut spending and reform programs. This led to Canada having a budget surplus (more money coming in than going out) in 1997, which was the first time since 1969.

Chrétien strongly opposed the Quebec sovereignty movement (the idea of Quebec becoming its own country). He helped the "No" side win by a small amount in the 1995 Quebec referendum. His government also created the long-gun registry, introduced the harmonized sales tax (HST), and helped with Operation Yellow Ribbon after the September 11 attacks. They also passed laws like the Species At Risk Act and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. His government also prepared the way for legalizing same-sex marriage.

In foreign policy, Chrétien's government signed the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. They also led the way for the Ottawa Treaty to ban landmines. He sent Canadian troops to help in the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and the War in Afghanistan. However, he chose not to send Canadian troops to the Iraq War.

Chrétien faced some political challenges during his time as prime minister. He was accused of issues related to government spending, but he always said he did nothing wrong. He also had a long-standing rivalry with his finance minister, Paul Martin. In December 2003, Chrétien resigned as prime minister and left politics. He is remembered as one of Canada's important prime ministers.

Early Life and Education

Jean Chrétien was born on January 11, 1934, in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec. He was the 18th of 19 children in his family. His parents, Marie and Wellie Chrétien, were not wealthy. They wanted their children to get a good education. Jean's father encouraged him to read a lot.

Chrétien's family was strongly Liberal in their political views. This was sometimes difficult in Quebec at the time, as the ruling party, the Union Nationale, was very different. Chrétien went to Catholic schools, which were the only public schools in Quebec until 1964. He later studied law at Université Laval.

As a young man, Chrétien had a condition called Bell's palsy, which caused one side of his face to be partly paralyzed. He used this in his first political campaign, saying he was "One politician who didn't talk out of both sides of his mouth." He is also deaf in one ear.

On September 10, 1957, he married Aline Chaîné. They had three children: France, Hubert, and Michel (who was adopted).

Early Political Career

Chrétien worked as a lawyer before being elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1963. He represented the area of Saint-Maurice, which included his hometown of Shawinigan. He held this seat for most of the next 41 years.

In 1967, Chrétien became a junior minister in the government. He was appointed Minister of National Revenue in 1968. During the 1968 Liberal leadership race, he supported Pierre Trudeau, who later became prime minister.

Minister of Indian Affairs

Jean Chrétien as minister of Indian affairs and northern development in 1968

After the 1968 election, Prime Minister Trudeau made Chrétien Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Chrétien introduced a plan in 1969 to change laws related to treaties with First Nations. This plan was called the "White Paper." Many First Nations groups did not agree with it, saying it would make them lose their unique identity. The plan was later stopped.

During his time as Minister of Indian Affairs, Chrétien became very fond of Canada's far north. He often spent his summers there.

Other Cabinet Roles

In 1974, Chrétien became President of the Treasury Board. In this role, he was known for saying "no" to requests for more money from other government departments. This helped him gain a reputation as a "tough guy" who could make difficult decisions.

From 1976 to 1977, he served as Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce. He worked to help Canadian businesses trade more with countries in Asia and Europe, rather than relying mostly on the United States.

Minister of Finance

In 1977, Chrétien became the Minister of Finance. He was the first French-speaking person to hold this important job. He worked to manage Canada's money and budgets.

Chrétien in 1980

Key Role in Constitutional Changes

After the Liberals lost the 1979 election, they won again in 1980. Trudeau then appointed Chrétien Minister of Justice and Attorney General. In this role, Chrétien played a big part in the 1980 Quebec referendum, where Quebecers voted on whether to separate from Canada. Chrétien gave many speeches across Quebec, strongly supporting Canada staying united.

Chrétien also helped bring the Canadian Constitution home from Britain in 1982. This process is called patriation. He was a key negotiator in creating the "Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms" and the "notwithstanding clause" (Section 33), which allows governments to temporarily override some parts of the Charter.

First Leadership Bid

When Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced his retirement in 1984, Chrétien ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party.

When Prime Minister Trudeau decided to retire in 1984, Chrétien ran to become the new leader of the Liberal Party. He presented himself as someone who would continue Trudeau's policies. He lost the leadership race to John Turner.

Turner then appointed Chrétien Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for External Affairs. However, their relationship was difficult.

In Opposition (1984–1993)

After the Liberals lost the 1984 election to Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservatives, Chrétien's relationship with John Turner became very strained. Chrétien left politics for a short time in 1986. He worked in the private sector, serving on the boards of several companies.

Returns to Politics and Wins Leadership

Paul Martin was Chrétien's main opponent for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1990. Their rivalry continued for many years.

After the Liberals lost another election in 1988, Turner resigned as leader. Chrétien decided to return to politics and ran for the Liberal Party leadership again in 1990. His main opponent was Paul Martin.

A big issue during this time was the Meech Lake Accord, a plan to change the Constitution. Chrétien had a complex view on it, which caused some debate. Despite this, Chrétien won the leadership on the first ballot in June 1990.

Leader of the Official Opposition

As the new Liberal leader, Chrétien became the Leader of the Official Opposition. He strongly opposed the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) introduced by the Mulroney government. He ordered Liberal senators to try and block the GST bill, which led to much debate in Parliament.

In December 1990, Chrétien won a special election in the riding of Beauséjour in New Brunswick to get a seat in the House of Commons.

In the early 1990s, Canada was in a recession. Chrétien believed that Canada needed to increase its exports to other countries to help the economy. He also supported free trade agreements.

Chrétien supported the Charlottetown Accord in 1992, another attempt to change the Constitution. He felt that these constitutional debates were hurting Canada and that the Accord was the best way to end them.

The 1993 Election

In 1993, Prime Minister Mulroney retired, and Kim Campbell became the new Progressive Conservative leader. Chrétien led the Liberals into the 1993 election.

The Liberals released their platform, a detailed plan called the "Red Book." They promised to get rid of the GST, renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and invest in infrastructure projects to boost the economy. They also promised to reduce the government's deficit.

During the campaign, the Progressive Conservatives released an advertisement that seemed to make fun of Chrétien's facial paralysis. Chrétien responded strongly, saying, "God gave me a physical defect, and I accepted that since I'm a kid. It's true, that I speak on one side of my mouth. I'm not a Tory, I don't speak on both sides of my mouth." This ad caused a lot of public anger and helped Chrétien.

On October 25, 1993, the Liberals won a large majority government, taking 177 seats. The Progressive Conservatives suffered a huge defeat, winning only two seats. Chrétien won his old riding of Saint-Maurice.

Prime Minister (1993–2003)

Jean Chrétien with U.S. President Bill Clinton during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Seattle, November 17-19, 1993

Jean Chrétien became prime minister on November 4, 1993. He had a lot of experience in government, which helped him lead a very organized government. His government focused on managing issues as they came up.

Quebec and National Unity

1995 Quebec Referendum

A major challenge for Chrétien was the possibility of Quebec separating from Canada. In September 1995, Quebec held another independence referendum. At first, polls showed the "No" side (staying in Canada) was winning easily. However, as the campaign went on, support for the "Yes" side grew quickly.

On October 30, 1995, the "No" side won by a very small margin, with 50.58% of the vote.

After the Referendum

After the close vote, Chrétien's government started a new approach to keep Canada united. This included promoting Canada more in Quebec. In 1996, Chrétien also suggested that if Quebec were to separate, regions within Quebec that voted "No" could remain part of Canada.

In February 1996, during a public event, Chrétien was confronted by a protester. Chrétien responded by grabbing the protester by the neck. This incident became known as the "Shawinigan handshake".

Clarity Act

Following the 1995 referendum, Chrétien championed the Clarity Act. This law, passed in June 2000, states that the Canadian government will only recognize a province's declaration of independence if there is a "clear majority" vote on a "clear question" about sovereignty. This law aimed to make the rules for separation very clear.

Domestic Affairs

In November 1997, Canada hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vancouver. There were protests during the meeting. Chrétien was later cleared of any wrongdoing related to how police handled the protesters.

In 1999, Chrétien advised Queen Elizabeth II not to give a British title to Canadian media owner Conrad Black. This was based on a Canadian tradition from 1917. Black sued Chrétien, but the courts ruled in Chrétien's favour.

Electoral Reforms

In July 2003, Chrétien's government passed a law to change how elections are funded. This law aimed to reduce the influence of large donations from companies and unions. It provided a subsidy to political parties based on the number of votes they received.

Social Issues

In 1995, the Chrétien government introduced the Canadian Firearms Registry, which required the registration of most firearms in Canada.

In April 2003, a new Youth Criminal Justice Act was introduced. This law changed how young people are dealt with in the justice system. The government also passed important environmental laws, including the Species at Risk Act.

In July 2003, Chrétien changed his view on gay marriage. After a court ruling in Toronto, he supported a bill to legalize same-sex marriage across Canada.

Economic Policy

Chrétien's government focused on improving Canada's finances. They worked to eliminate the large government deficit. The first budget under his government in 1994 began with modest cuts.

Chrétien in 1996

In 1995, the government introduced deeper spending cuts. Chrétien supported these cuts, even though they were difficult. He said it was necessary to prevent Canada from facing a financial crisis. These efforts led to Canada having a balanced budget in February 1998, for the first time since 1969.

During his time as prime minister, the government eliminated a $42 billion deficit. They also recorded five budget surpluses and paid down $36 billion in debt. Taxes were also cut. While these changes helped the economy, some government services, especially in healthcare, saw reductions.

In 1996, the Chrétien government worked to combine the federal GST with provincial sales taxes in some Atlantic provinces.

Foreign Policy

Canada in Conflicts

In 1999, Chrétien supported Canada's involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bombing campaign in Yugoslavia over the issue of Kosovo. He also ordered Canadian military intervention in the War in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks.

Relations with China

Chrétien was interested in the People's Republic of China. In 1994, he led the first of several "Team Canada" trade missions to China. These missions aimed to increase trade between Canada and China. Chrétien focused on economic ties, believing that trade would help improve relations.

Relations with the United States

Chrétien shaking hands with US President Bill Clinton, at the 1993 APEC Summit.

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Canadian forces joined a group of countries to fight al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. U.S. President George W. Bush praised Canada's response, which included Operation Yellow Ribbon to help grounded flights.

Refusal to Join the Iraq War

President George W. Bush and Jean Chrétien address the media before a 2002 bilateral meeting.

Chrétien's government did not support the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq. His main reason was that the war did not have approval from the United Nations Security Council. To show that Canada was still a good ally, Chrétien agreed to send more Canadian troops to Afghanistan in 2003.

Defence Policy

In 1993, Chrétien cancelled a contract to buy new EH-101 helicopters for the military. This meant the search for new helicopters had to start over. Later, in 1998, his government announced that older helicopters would be replaced by a search-and-rescue version of the EH101, called the CH-149 Cormorant.

Re-elections

1997 Federal Election

Chrétien called an early election in the spring of 1997. He hoped to win another majority government. Despite some challenges, the Liberals kept a majority government, mainly due to strong support in Ontario.

2000 Federal Election

Chrétien called another early election in the fall of 2000. He aimed to take advantage of divisions among conservative parties. The Liberals won a strong majority government again, gaining more seats in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Scandals and Controversies

Shawinigate

In late 2000 and early 2001, there were questions about Chrétien's involvement in loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada to a hotel and golf resort in his hometown. Chrétien said he had sold his interest in the property. The police investigated but found no evidence to lay charges.

Sponsorship Scandal

A major controversy during Chrétien's later years was the Sponsorship Scandal. This involved government money given to companies in Quebec, with little accountability. In 2002, a report found that rules were broken in how some contracts were given out. Chrétien argued that the program was necessary to promote Canadian unity in Quebec. This scandal affected the Liberal Party's reputation after he left office.

Chrétien and Martin: Liberal Party Infighting

Relations between Chrétien and his finance minister, Paul Martin, were often difficult. Martin hoped to become prime minister after Chrétien. By early 2002, their rivalry became very public.

Resignation

In August 2002, Chrétien announced that he would not lead the Liberal Party in the next election. He set his resignation date for February 2004. However, due to increasing pressure from Martin's supporters, Chrétien resigned earlier. His last day as prime minister was December 12, 2003, when Paul Martin took over.

Retirement

Stéphane Dion makes a speech on October 10, 2008, in Brampton West. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was among notable Liberals at this rally.

After leaving office, Jean Chrétien joined a law firm. The Sponsorship Scandal continued to be investigated, and a public inquiry, the Gomery Commission, was held. Chrétien testified at the commission in 2005. He believed the commission was unfair to him.

In October 2007, Chrétien had heart surgery but made a full recovery.

In November 2008, Chrétien helped negotiate a possible agreement between the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Bloc Québécois to form a new government.

Chrétien at the Rise Up For Canada rally, 2011

In August 2010, Chrétien had emergency brain surgery but recovered quickly.

Chrétien has continued to be involved in public life. He is a member of the Club de Madrid, a group of former democratic leaders. He was also appointed to the Order of Canada and the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II.

Chrétien at a rally in support of Justin Trudeau, 2015

In 2015, Chrétien wrote an open letter criticizing the government's response to the European migrant crisis. He urged Canadians to vote for a change in government.

In September 2022, Chrétien attended Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral.

Legacy

Wax figure of Chrétien at the Royal London Wax Museum

Jean Chrétien is often ranked highly among Canadian prime ministers by historians and scholars. He is remembered for improving Canada's finances and for his efforts to keep the country united. Many also remember his decision not to join the Iraq War.

Supreme Court Appointments

During his time as prime minister, Chrétien appointed the following judges to the Supreme Court of Canada:

• Michel Bastarache (1997)
• William Ian Corneil Binnie (1998)
• Louise Arbour (1999)
• Louis LeBel (2000)
• Beverly McLachlin (as chief justice, 2000)
• Marie Deschamps (2002)
• Morris J. Fish (2003)

Honours

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Merit (O.M.)	July 13, 2009
	Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.)	Awarded on May 3, 2007 Invested on February 22, 2008
	Centennial Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal	1967 As a minister of the Crown and an elected member of the House of Commons of Canada, Jean Chrétien would be awarded the medal as a member of the Canadian order of precedence.
	Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal for Canada	1977 As a minister of the Crown and an elected member of the House of Commons of Canada, Jean Chrétien would be awarded the medal as a member of the Canadian order of precedence.
	125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal	1993 As the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and an elected member of the House of Commons of Canada, Jean Chrétien would be awarded the medal as a member of the Canadian order of precedence.
	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for Canada	2002 As the prime minister of Canada and an elected member of the House of Commons of Canada, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien would be awarded the medal as a member of the Canadian order of precedence.
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada	2012 As a former prime minister of Canada and having been awarded with the Order of Canada, Jean Chrétien was awarded the medal as a member of the Canadian order of precedence.
	Order of Friendship from the Russian Federation	2014
	Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government	2023

Arms of Jean Chrétien

Crest Issuant from flames Or a phoenix wings elevated and addorsed Azure beaked and crested Gules holding in its beak an open scroll proper; Escutcheon Gules a beehive Or with three bees Argent embellished Sable, in the canton the mark of the Prime Ministership of Canada (four maple leaves conjoined in cross) Argent; Supporters Two polar bears proper each charged on the shoulder with a Latin cross pendent from each crossbeam two balance pans Gules, standing on a rocky mount proper set with maple leaves Gules and fleurs-de-lis Azure and issuant from barry-wavy Argent and Azure; Motto LABORARE AD AEDIFICANDUM (Work To Build)

Honorary Degrees

Jean Chrétien has received many honorary degrees from universities around the world. These degrees recognize his achievements and contributions.

Location	Date	School	Degree
Ontario	1981	Wilfrid Laurier University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Ontario	1982	Laurentian University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Ontario	1986	York University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Alberta	1987	University of Alberta	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Ontario	1988	Lakehead University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Ontario	1994	University of Ottawa	Doctor of the University (D.Univ)
New Brunswick	1994	University of Moncton
Japan	1996	Meiji University	Doctorate
Poland	1999	Warsaw School of Economics	Doctorate
Michigan	1999	Michigan State University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Israel	2000	Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Newfoundland and Labrador	2000	Memorial University of Newfoundland	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Dominican Republic	2003	Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
Ontario	2004	Queen's University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Ontario	2005	McMaster University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Ukraine	2007	National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
Ontario	October 23, 2008	University of Western Ontario	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Quebec	2008	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Quebec	June 2010	Concordia University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Quebec	2011	Université de Montréal
Manitoba	June 12, 2014	University of Winnipeg	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Ontario	2022	Carleton University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)

See also

In Spanish: Jean Chrétien para niños

• List of prime ministers of Canada

Succession