Jean Chretien
The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien PC OM CC QC Chrétien in May 2010 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 (1993–1996, 1996–1997) Herb Gray (1997–2002) John Manley (2002–2003) Preceded by Kim Campbell Succeeded by Paul Martin Leader of the Opposition In office December 21, 1990 – November 4, 1993 Monarch Elizabeth II Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Kim Campbell Preceded by Herb Gray (acting) Succeeded by Lucien Bouchard 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Canada 18th Secretary for External Affairs In office June 30, 1984 – September 17, 1984 Prime Minister John Turner Preceded by Allan MacEachen Succeeded by Erik Nielsen (Deputy PM) Joe Clark (External Affairs) 7th 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 36th Minister of Justice In office March 3, 1980 – September 9, 1982 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Jacques Flynn Succeeded by Mark MacGuigan 27th Minister of Finance In office September 16, 1977 – June 4, 1979 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Donald Stovel Macdonald Succeeded by John Crosbie 4th 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 3rd 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 2nd Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development In office July 5, 1968 – August 7, 1974 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Arthur Laing Succeeded by Judd Buchanan 13th 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 1967 – January 18, 1968 Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice In office October 25, 1993 – December 12, 2003 Preceded by Denis Pronovost Succeeded by Marcel Gagnon 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—Laflèche (1963–1968) Saint-Maurice (1968–1986) In office April 8, 1963 – February 27, 1986 Preceded by Gérard Lamy Succeeded by Gilles Grondin Personal details Born Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien (1934-01-11) January 11, 1934 (age 81) Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada Political party Liberal Spouse(s) Aline Chrétien Relations Michel Chrétien (brother) Children Hubert Chrétien, Michel Chrétien, and France Chrétien Desmarais Residence Shawinigan, Quebec Alma mater Université Laval Occupation Lawyer Religion Roman Catholic Signature Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien PC OM CC QC (born January 11, 1934) known commonly as Jean Chrétien (French pronunciation:  [ʒɑ kʁetjɛ ]) was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003. Born and raised in Shawinigan, Quebec, Chrétien is a law graduate from Université Laval. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1963. He served in various cabinet posts under prime minister Pierre Trudeau, most prominently as Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. He also served as deputy prime minister in John Turner's short-lived government. He became leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1990, and led the party to a majority government in the 1993 federal election. He was re-elected with further majorities in 1997 and 2000. Chrétien was strongly opposed to the Quebec sovereignty movement and supported official bilingualism and multiculturalism. He won a narrow victory as leader of the federalist camp in the 1995 Quebec Referendum, and then pioneered the Clarity Act to avoid ambiguity in future referendum questions. He also advanced the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Parliament. Although his popularity and that of the Liberal Party were seemingly unchallenged for three consecutive federal elections, he became subject to various political controversies in the later years of his premiership. He was accused of inappropriate behaviour in the Sponsorship Scandal, although he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He also became embroiled in a protracted struggle within the Liberal Party against long-time political rival Paul Martin. He resigned as prime minister in December 2003, and left public life. In retroactive polling, Chrétien ranks highly among both scholars and the public.