EXCLUSIVE: One-on-one with Canada's former PM Jean Chrétien | Power Play with Vassy Kapelos

Jean Chrétien, Canada's former prime minister, says the problems the world is facing now are 'very difficult' compared to when he was PM.
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[@happycanadianguy]

I'm a conservative and still believe that Jean and Paul Martin were the best duo that ever ran Canada.

[@supermash1]

You mean Mr. Dithers? LOL.

[@JMBeaushriimp]

Never voted for him, but I certainly didn't despise him or get violently nauseous just hearing his voice. How times have changed...

[@krissingleton4292]

"We have to be moderate, I'm a Liberal, I'm dead centre..." I am eagerly awaiting the LPC's return to the centre

[@think2146]

I hope you are young , a long time you will be waiting .

[@AndrewNuttallWearsPants]

Chretien makes an excellent point about journalism being too easy (meaning, lower quality) today, then he brings up something extremely important: The quality of debate in the House of Commons has been severely degraded to the point of not being real. The style we see today is about theatre, and none of our elected representatives change their minds due to points raised in the House. Rather, we have centralized too much power in the PMO and our politicians compete for clicks instead of working out differences through civil debate.

[@arlenecollins9095]

How do you debate with a person that’s so corrupt along with his sidekicks

[@jessd4048]

Chrétiens clear sightedness on Iraq was a standout moment in Canadian politics and one of the most redeeming decisions a politician in this country has made in the last 50 years.

[@amirdm8235]

Beat me to it- I can’t imagine the backbone of this dude to not give in to the immense pressure and rage of Americans at that point.

[@vincenteng7613]

Yes I watched that interview .He said well we remove Sadam government,then who is next.

[@KyleRuggles]

Agreed!!!!

[@thefly373]

The fact that he realized spending 35% of tax revenue on paying interest on our debt was unsustainable was one of the most redeeming decisions that a federal leader has made in a very long time. More significant than staying out of Iraq IMHO.

[@hamidakbar1159]

Politics have completely changed. Before, politicians used to ask what we could do for you. Now, the politicians asked what can you do for me!

[@tvismyonlyfriend]

You never needed a social scientific degree to live in this world as a normal citizen

[@frankymcleod]

Hahaha you were 12 when He was elected. Come on, did you really understand what was going on in the world then? Really Vassey?

[@dannygoguen1027]

He’s a Trudeau lover

[@bonbonvegabon]

We all love Justin. best PM ever.

[@tobias1959]

🤣🤣🤣🤡@@bonbonvegabon

[@samalexander5236]

I don’t know, he’s saying we are in a tough spot. I don’t hear a lot of flattery here.

[@bonbonvegabon]

wahhhh more freedum*ie tears, so gd delicious@@tobias1959

[@canadianperson4830]

So many memories of him as Prime Minister. Unfortunately afterwards, finding out about him selling our land to the Japanese to bury their nuclear waste will be his legacy for me.

[@robdixon5016]

Another useless Liberal

[@SoWhatIfI...]

It really says something when you look at this former PM and have to admire the style and approach. I was never a fan but... you gota respect a guy who litterally took a protester by the throat when he got in his face!

[@HDSLB]

He would have been cancelled if it was today

[@omarelshayal3337]

this makes me feel old...i attended the Liberal biennial convention 6 months after he won

[@think2146]

Then you are old .

[@omarelshayal3337]

@@think2146 😂😂😂😂😂

[@demetriuskoitsopoulos8672]

And yet, what happened in 1993 that was then but this is 2023. We should be learning from our history and not repeating it

[@ricknichol3688]

That s the problem we have,,,, professional politicians

[@bonbonvegabon]

NO. the problem is CONSERVATIVES

[@andydunn4394]

There weren't bread lines in 93

[@jamesrideout123]

I would take Chretien anyday over Trudeau and I am a stone cold Trump Conservative.. I shook Chretiens hand in 2002 at Glace Bay High in Nova Scotia.

[@amirdm8235]

He’s a true gentleman.

[@KyleRuggles]

Trump conservative? So... insane?

[@jeffpoirier1184]

​@@KyleRuggles Just as insane as Trudeau Liberal.

[@Arkhanno]

@@KyleRuggles And American.

[@gorgeousgeorge5173]

Ok but he heartily endorsed Trudeau this past year.

[@Ivanitcthanus]

Sorry Chretien Justin's toast nice try.

[@tobias1959]

Anyone remember the Shawinigan Hand shake, go for the throat, I guess better then being trampled by Blackface's horses

[@alexandermaclean1735]

I am a middle of the road voter leaning conservative but it is always always a pleasure to see and listen to Jean Chretien.What a decent human.

[@JamesMcNeillmcneilmortgages]

Hope you have Harper on next.

[@theloniousm4337]

They have invited Paul Martin to be on but he can't decide whether to accept or not.

[@bonbonvegabon]

harper who? lol WE FIRED HIM

[@tobias1959]

Now look where you are Mom's basement🤡@@bonbonvegabon

[@maritimer3027]

@@bonbonvegabonFired Chrétien too!

[@therealpvc2541]

just like we are going to fire Justin soon@@bonbonvegabon

[@SharylForster-om5uw]

Always wonderful to see and listen to Jean Chrétien from a very proud Canadian

[@handzus19]

Mr. Sponsorship Scandal.

[@dullsearake]

Very sharp for 90

[@Prairieshutterbug64]

There was no TV in those days. Wow you know you're old when you can say that. :)

[@thekiltedkamper2855]

The reason Canada had so much debt is because of overspending. That the Trudeau 1.0 govt did, leading to inflation from printed money...and Chretien was P Trudeaus finance minister, history repeated itself with Justin Trudeau. The Austerity measures cut military and govt building spending... Canadas military was in desert storm with green camo🙄. The National parks were run down and lacked maintenance. Yet Chretiens hotel got a grant for renos...

[@lukeamato423]

You're not very smart

[@dannygoguen1027]

He’s trying to save Justin Trudeau that’s all he’s doing!!!!!

[@KyleRuggles]

Putin really putting you to work, eh?

[@leecrumble3921]

Nothing can save Trudeau, he's made to many Canadians struggle to pay bills with many going homeless tent cities everywhere!

[@menacexp]

No one can save Trudeau

[@bonbonvegabon]

PP the fasc*st inc*l will never be PM@@menacexp

[@cleomenes01]

​@@KyleRuggleslol, you're funny. 😅

[@BrendaMcLaughlin-xe5dj]

I am tired of these old men selling out their reputation to stick up for Trudick.😊

[@lindaknipe5482]

Don’t like him

[@andydunn4394]

Rent and mortgage was 25 to 30% income

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

Must never be forgotten that Chretien earned Canadian votes with 4 dollar a pack cigarettes.

[@RaymondDM]

The difference is that he was proud of canada. Unlike our so called pm now, trying to bring this country to its knees.

[@ickster23]

I disagree with him that there are solutions. I prefer Thomas Sowell's observation that there are no solutions, only trade offs.

[@karatsurba4791]

At 12:15 , he said "I wasn't paid to make decisions" ? Weird.

[@larrycanada2100]

He said he was paid to make decisions. That was his job.

[@karatsurba4791]

@@larrycanada2100 makes sense. Thank you for the correction

[@MrFelix002]

I can’t remember if I voted but I didn’t give hoots who was pm but he’s still sharp in this interview

[@supermash1]

Couldn't stand this guy as PM, but compared to Trudeau he is a philosopher king! Cannot stand the liberal party. Have never voted for them, and barring some unexpected catastrophe I never will.

[@kenpierard5161]

The nineties were a prosperous decade, but Chretien failed to eliminate the GST like he promised and had numerous financial scandals involving his friends that cost taxpayers billions .

[@arlenecollins9095]

A Liberal is a Liberal is a Liberal-Walks like a duck

[@menacexp]

Sounds very familiar

[@jccarriere3719]

He's still so sharp!

[@alanteare1603]

She should have asked him about the Trucks on the Hill: JC “I am absolutely opposed to them being there. The PMO should get rid of them…..? Trucks?!…I thought you said Drugs!”

[@jansumi]

lol. He would've loved to have said that.

[@dannygoguen1027]

Hey Jean what did you do for the middle class ? I’ll tell you what you did nothing!!!

[@mikelawlor1533]

@@Viewpoint11 Ifirst thing I think of me is GST getting cut from 7% to 6 to 5% from Harper

[@hyun8519]

What is exclusive about this

[@BrendaMcLaughlin-xe5dj]

I am tired of these old men selling out their reputation to stick up for Trudeau.

[@robdixon5016]

He sucked as PM anyhow

[@hyun8519]

Wow

[@jf7882]

Last time I voted Liberal. JT has ruined the brand.

[@withershin]

This dude sat with me as a 20-something server in the kitchen staff eating spot to avoid eating with the "blowhards". He said it in French but I think I translated okay. Literally tall skinny dude sitting on a stacking chair buried in the kitchen. LIUNA Gardens. The security detail was not happy but they had SMGs.

[@hyun8519]

However if most your are solutions are confounded by external influences its difficult anyway the measure of a leader is what she does in post leadership lefts see what these two discuss

[@andydunn4394]

Soft ball.

[@sean367]

When the Liberals were decent .Now just a train wreck.

[@think2146]

The trainwreck began with ol crooked mouth .

[@user-yd6sj3pe4j]

I know him but his power didn’t last for long time In a way nostalgic

[@szeptacz5342]

He was a prime minister for 10 years..

[@kmlh5456]

He looks like he is ready to vapor lock.

[@j.k.d.126]

He always looked that way.

[@jrodrc4137]

Whats that Jean? Youll eliminate the GST. Nope didnt do that. But Harper did lower it 2% and also not run deficits until the liberal coalition demanded they do.

[@seap9570]

Yes Jean you knew it was a job and a very important job. As opposed to Justin Trudeau who travels on vacations around the world at taxpayers expenses and only shows up when theres a photo op. What an unrealistic comparison comparing Jean to Justin.

[@Najeeb706]

He was a terrible pm. Arrogant.

[@debbiebain6581]

Chrétien has lost his grip on political issues. He was never so boastful on his capabilities

[@dannygoguen1027]

I’ve never seen Canada ad bad

[@z9944x]

You are free to go ...

[@HiThere-jl8uh]

Hes always honorable member, as past pm, reporter needs to acknowledge that.

[@olisehchukwu]

❤

[@shanedrew3974]

He should be incarcerated for his role in residential schools.Too bad his cohort Pierre Trudeau has already escaped prosecution.

[@barzinlotfabadi]

Please tell him to come back - and he's right about the disaster that was the tories deregulating the banking sector; we were sitting pretty and they decided we couldn't have something nice

[@JMcD500]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@traviscutler9912]

I like how Vashi spoke to him like a child

[@yourpetyourway]

She spoke to him with reverence.

[@malvinafilipkowska8042]

And baby answers. They sound like they think we’re retards.

[@tobias1959]

🤣🤣🤡@@yourpetyourway

[@traviscutler9912]

@@3limabean NAFTA was pretty rude.....

[@brentborland799]

In 1993 the premier of Ontario was NDP Bob Rae and Rae days and Ontario was the farthest in debt because of his economics policies. I love to hear his opinion about the NDP/liberal marriage today.

[@martinlebreton6391]

Make the LPC liberal again.

[@hyun8519]

Ah the pastoral myth

[@DrToetag]

Hes a totally corrupt dufis...he should be in jail...

[@gregbell3559]

You mean Mulroney

[@hyun8519]

Weak questions so not much depth

[@obesia1873]

My sugar daddy

[@ShelleySimpsonagent99]

Vassy, you can do better for guests.

[@thefly373]

I love how he said he realized it was "not to be a holiday". If only the current PM had the same attitude. Actually, all the historical PM's going back to the 1970's all worked incredibly hard. But for some reason Trudeau seems to think it's time for a holiday, vacations and it's all about him. A little modesty in a PM, and leaders in general, should be a top requirement for voters in the future.

[@AliAlali-dx8vq]

He is the last great leader of Canada .

[@djscrewbox6200]

We need you back Jean. 🎉 ive had to switch to cons after being a life long Liberal. Sad days for liberals. Corruption and international blunders are getting overwhelming. We Paul back to get monetary policies straightened out. Canada needs to be peacekeepers again.

[@wendolynparent4193]

Its actually best to be Conservative...

[@very_awake]

The current liberals are bunch of ideologues who answer to no one. They definitely don’t represent the middle class Canadians. I blame today’s non-critical thinking voters.

[@think2146]

Checkyour screw box ,it seems there are some loose ones floating around .

[@djscrewbox6200]

Thanks for elevating this conversation I could of put think in my name to seem smart. @@think2146

[@marlene8344]

CLOWN

[@think2146]

Who had the dumb idea of digging up this cadaver ?

[@rajeshrai42]

Replace Justinder with some wise PM

[@ut4964]

Jean Chrétien was one of the best we had.

[@victoriamacpriest7130]

He sure was! ❤

[@leecrumble3921]

He's nothing more than a lier! Broke plenty of promises!

[@NotLeftarded1]

Top of the pile of crap is no different than the bottom. It is still just crap. Once they swear an oath to the English crown they cease to be French.

[@bonbonvegabon]

LIAR NOT LIER LOL Why are cons so uned*cated? lol@@leecrumble3921

[@think2146]

Same here .@@grantdamsgaard2702

[@roberthanks1636]

"We are in much better shape today than we were in '93" (2:20), when Chretien took over from Mulroney.

[@think2146]

Those were the day's when so called "democracy " ended .

[@roberthanks1636]

@@think2146 Just how did democracy end in 1993?

[@useyourmind5]

ya much worse, you could make 50k a year, pay off your 300k home by age 55 and retire ten years later....waaaaaay worse

[@anthonyheaney1255]

Love his terms

[@davidlopan9614]

Has chretien ever apologized for running the residential schools?

[@think2146]

Of course trudeau did that as well and we reward his son . Strange that .

[@rebelsnappingturtle5097]

As a former Fed worker I am still affected by his lack of raises. He looks ok considering his age etc. I don't wish him well but wtf? Another Quebec PM

[@chuckthebuilder77]

When you have to get finances under control, that's just a reality...I respect his fiscal conservatism.

[@very_awake]

In summary… Chrétien helped Canadians stand on their feet, while Trudeau, on the other hand, brought them to their knees

[@robdixon5016]

Chretien sucked as PM

[@mathysiva1425]

My favourite PM ❤

[@hamidakbar1159]

Great Canadian prime minister.

[@JMcD500]

🤣🤣🤣 You're fked!!!!

[@philipbloedow8296]

poilievre is awful

[@aguydoingguystuff6289]

The polls are clearly showing that…

[@maxinearmstrong9566]

Vassey is obviously a fan!!

[@leecrumble3921]

He is awfully great. I can't wait to see him fix Trudeau's record deficit! We are spending more on servicing the debt interest then we spend on health care for the year!

[@menacexp]

You’re awful if you’re a liberal supporter. You’re part of the problem

[@florapetrescu9358]

P.P.pour P.M.

[@shancesimser74]

Where's the grim reaper when you need him .