SHAWINIGAN, Que. (CP) — Jean Chrétien spoke out in defence of his political legacy today but the retired prime minister who prided himself as a political streetfighter declined to throw any punches at foes who questioned his integrity.
[. . . .] "You know, attacks are a part of life for a politician and you fight back. I loved to fight back but now I'm not in politics anymore."
He said he didn't have to offer any explanations for the sponsorship program [. . . .]
"I've already said I've answered 200 times in the House of Commons. There were 200 questions on this so I've had a chance to say in English and French and maybe a few times in joual (French slang). What do you want? I answered those questions. I don't answer questions about current affairs anymore."
[. . . . ] He added that the French newspaper L'Express said in December "that Canada was the country that the French people would like to be in. So that was when I left." [Thanks to JC and his claque, Canada has moved away from alignment and more toward France and the EU. NJC]
But the loudest cheers for Chrétien during a speech Thursday night came when he reminded his audience of 700 that it was the one-year anniversary of his decision not to join the American-led war in Iraq.
He cited the Iraq announcement as a "great day" for Canada.
"Because it was a chance for us to show we are an independent country, with its own convictions, principles and a policy that respects the international situation," he said. "We believe in the United Nations, we believe in peace in the world."
[. . . .] [Pierrette Bureau, owner of the Cafe Caloca ] said her restaurant was packed last summer because of the 60,000 visitors — many of them tourists — visiting the art exhibit Chrétien helped bring to the town.
[. . . .] Then he ended his speech with a twist on the habitual salute to Canada that usually concluded his addresses.
