Former PM Jean Chrétien talks politics, division, and unity in Alberta

Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien says the UCP should “look at the reality” of the situation in the country amid increasing tension in Alberta.

Chrétien spoke with reporters in Calgary Thursday as part of a visit to Member of Parliament George Chahal’s office in Calgary-Skyview.

The 89-year-old was asked questions about tension between Alberta’s political parties ahead of the provincial election in May.

In his response, he reflected upon his 10 years as prime minister.

“It was tough in my time. Politics is a debating society. Some are not polite, and others [are]. I was fighting back all the time. You know me, but I try not to hit below the belt,” Chrétien said.

“I know that when you hit below the belt, the people recognize it. So it’s better to remain a gentleman or a gentlewoman in life and in politics.”

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Chahal echoed these statements, calling what is happening now “concerning,” as he recalled when he, current Mayor Jyoti Gondek, and then-Mayor Naheed Nenshi were targeted frequently.

“It’s unfortunate that folks who are displeased with government are targeting politicians. And we don’t want to see what’s happening in other countries around the world where … elected officials have been injured or killed,” he said.

“It’s a responsibility that all politicians have appropriate discourse, but that does not put a target on others’ backs. And for me, it’s concerning to see. And it’s also concerning to see political leaders enflame that type of hate in our country.”

Chahal says the politics of today look to be going down a path that is similar to what is taking place in the U.S.

“We have a responsibility and people have to be careful on what they say because it does have an impact,” he said.

“We’re real people. I have a family. You know, it’s concerning when my kids don’t feel safe coming or leaving their home going to the park.”

‘They should look at reality’

The 20th prime minister of Canada was also asked about how the UCP continues to take aim at the federal government.

“You know, the situation is quite good in Canada today,” Chrétien said.

“I’ve been in public life since 1956, and it is the first time in that period of time that the problem we have in the nation, it’s not creation of jobs, it’s having people to fill the jobs.”

Chrétien was also asked about the controversial Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, the selling point of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s campaign during the UCP leadership race.

He said Albertans involved in the discourse should “look at the reality.”

“They claim that the federal government is centralist too much. When I started, two-thirds of the taxes were collected by the federal government, and now the federal government collects only 30 per cent of the taxes of Canada,” Chrétien said. “So that means there was a lot of decentralization.”

In addition, Chrétien says, “it’s not new” for leaders of any government to look for someone higher up to blame.

“When you’re a mayor, you have a problem. What do you do? You blame the provincial government. When you’re a provincial government, you have a problem, what do you do? You blame the federal government,” he said.

“When you’re the federal government, what do you do? We cannot blame the Queen or the King anymore, so we blame the Americans.”

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Chrétien also pointed at what the federal government has done when it comes to the oil and gas sector, a point of ire for Smith and former Premier Jason Kenney.

“This Liberal government gave the permission and got the pipeline in B.C. for Alberta — billions of dollars,” Chrétien said.

“They gave the permission to build a pipeline to go to the United States. It was blocked in the United States. But when the Tories were there for 10 years, they never built one mile of pipeline. Zero.”

24 Sussex Drive an ’embarrassment’

Chrétien spoke candidly with reporters about the current state of 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of prime ministers in Canada, saying at one point, “I am speaking too much.”

“It is an embarrassment to the nation,” Chrétien said.

“But I was there; I did not repair it either … because I didn’t want you guys to think I was a spender while I was cutting money to balance the books.”

It was revealed that 24 Sussex Drive was closed last fall due to a major rodent infestation, and costs to repair it have been estimated to be as high as $36 million.

Chrétien shared the home of the prime minister has had issues for years.

“I remember one day receiving the vice president of the United States there in the summer. He had a security vest, he was sweating,” he said.

“They don’t even have air conditioning in that, and it was terribly embarrassing.”

Even with the high cost, Chrétien says the home should be repaired and not demolished.

The former prime minister was elected in 1993. He had a political career spanning 40 years.