Chretien Legacy

[playfullfellow]

10-20 years from now when we sit around and discuss the sad state of affairs our political system is in at that time, the name Chretien will come. Some people will say "who" and some people will, "oh yeah, isn't he the guy that did....................................? I for myself will probably only remember Chretien as the PM who kept us out of Iraq, managed to PO the US every other day, Shawinigate, gun control laws and pissing away billions of dollars placating Quebec. I was just wondering what other wondeful things people will remember Chretien for since the last few months of his political life were surrounded by the word legacy? Did he actually achieve a legacy he could be proud of?

[maplesyrup]

Just minor stuff like helping to keep the country from breaking up, seven balanced budgets in a row, and reducing Canada's debt.

[Hjalmar]

"oh yeah, isn't he the guy that did....................................?

History books will show him as the worst prime minister ever... after Trudeau, that is. His alliance [along with Trudeau] with Castro was probably the biggest embarrasment of all. But then again, Chretien was a dictator too, wasn't he? The USA has kept communism from our doorstep ever since the Cuban crisis when Kennedy was forced to place a quarantine on incoming offensive missiles from the USSR. Does anyone wonder why our relations with our good neighbor to the south has deteriorated so badly ever since 1968.

9/11/01 .. His insensitivity to this crisis was embarrasing to all of Canada.

[August1991]

His alliance [along with Trudeau] with Castro was probably the biggest embarrasment of all. But then again, Chretien was a dictator too, wasn't he?

WTF?

IMHO, Chretien will be remembered as a political St-Laurent. IOW, a successful PM. He kept the country together, and people enjoyed prosperity while he was in power.

Chretien got all the red folders off his desk before going home. He let his ministers do their job.

Like King who pointedly made Canada independent of the British Empire, Chretien pointedly made Canada independent of the States.

I had various run-ins with Chretien and I came away with the impression that he was 1) a glad-hander, 2) ambitious and 3) steely eyed. He was no policy wonk.

I liked him at first and then grew to dislike him. (The opposite of Mulroney.)

[jccc]

I will remember him for get rid of da GST......oh, wait a minute....

Jim

[playfullfellow]

we should not forget gun control, the military having helicopters that are officially antiques while our political elite get spitited around in nice shiny jets. I also seem to remember a solid choke hold Mr. Chretien had on some protestor (not necessarily a bad thing). I also wonder if Mr. Chretien still has walks where he regularily talks to homeless people. I do have to say he did keep the country together when the crunch was on and I guess people will always view him as a person who never seemed weak when the pressure was on. I also agree that he did not kow tow to the US unless he felt it was in Canada's interest.

[maplesyrup]

Keeping Canada out of the US led war on Iraq will continue to grow in importance in the years to come. Chretien depicted Canada's style here, and I think 80% of Canadians now support his decision.

[Hjalmar]

seven balanced budgets in a row, and reducing Canada's debt

All the credit goes to Paul Martin as finance minister in my view.

[August1991]

seven balanced budgets in a row, and reducing Canada's debt

All the credit goes to Paul Martin as finance minister in my view.

Not too difficult with about 8 years of solid US GDP growth under Clinton (and the computer productivity boost) meant growing tax revenues. Low interest rates meant low interest charges. This was not difficult compared to the 1980s.

The problem is that government spending is still far too high.

And Hjalmer, you should know that it makes absolutely no difference whether the government borrows or taxes. What matters is what portion of GDP the government takes. In Canada, this is still too high.