Post by AuntieSocial on Nov 14, 2003 10:19:34 GMT -5
Chrétien will be handing over the reigns of the Federal Liberal Party of Canada today *sighs* to Paul Martin. The following article appeared in today’s New York Times and highlighted some of the recent decisions made by the retiring Prime Minister. Chrétien Leaves at Ease, Even if Bush Is Displeased
This is with respect to the supervised heroin injection sites in Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal, where they hope to reduce overdoses, the spread of AIDS. He also commented that he doesn’t feel a 17 year old should have a criminal record because they once had a joint of marijuana.
Love him or hate him … he was, in my opinion, a great Prime Minister. He managed (barely) to keep the country together after the nearly disastrous referendum results on the issue of separation in 1995. He took an indebted federal government and put it back in the black (although much of that was due to a reduction in transfer payments and the debt originated with a former Liberal PM and made worse by subsequent PMs).
He has redefined the ‘Liberal Party’ to being liberal, favouring individual rights and social reform over the majority opinion and government. He made a clear statement that our country is not for sale or rent to any God or government!
Keep in mind while reading that quote that Chrétien is a practicing Roman Catholic who stood up against the Papal Considerations and proceeded with redefining marriage anyway ...
"I'm happy we are experimenting," he said. "I'd like to find out if there is not a better way than to fill the jails with people involved with drugs. It's not solving the problem."
This is with respect to the supervised heroin injection sites in Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal, where they hope to reduce overdoses, the spread of AIDS. He also commented that he doesn’t feel a 17 year old should have a criminal record because they once had a joint of marijuana.
Mr. Chrétien insisted that "relations are not bad at all" with the United States, and he still keeps a photograph of himself and President Bush in the foyer of his residence on the Ottawa River. But his positions left him clearly at odds with Washington on issues defining the core values of the two nations, ranging from Iraq and his support for the Kyoto climate treaty, to his proposed bills to expand marriage rights and decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.
Such stances may well mark Mr. Chrétien in history as a social activist and a leader who helped define the Canadian character as separate from that of its powerful southern neighbor, a place that even he seemed surprised to inhabit.
Such stances may well mark Mr. Chrétien in history as a social activist and a leader who helped define the Canadian character as separate from that of its powerful southern neighbor, a place that even he seemed surprised to inhabit.
Love him or hate him … he was, in my opinion, a great Prime Minister. He managed (barely) to keep the country together after the nearly disastrous referendum results on the issue of separation in 1995. He took an indebted federal government and put it back in the black (although much of that was due to a reduction in transfer payments and the debt originated with a former Liberal PM and made worse by subsequent PMs).
He has redefined the ‘Liberal Party’ to being liberal, favouring individual rights and social reform over the majority opinion and government. He made a clear statement that our country is not for sale or rent to any God or government!
Mr. Chrétien winced when reminded that a Canadian bishop suggested he was risking the fires of hell by deciding not to appeal an Ontario court decision extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians.
"God and I will decide that," he said with a guffaw. Then quickly correcting himself to appear a tad more modest, he added, "We'll discuss and he will decide."
"God and I will decide that," he said with a guffaw. Then quickly correcting himself to appear a tad more modest, he added, "We'll discuss and he will decide."
Keep in mind while reading that quote that Chrétien is a practicing Roman Catholic who stood up against the Papal Considerations and proceeded with redefining marriage anyway ...
