I truly believe he is an excellent leader for our country because he has a true sense of what is happening not only here but also globally. He is, to me, the exact oposite of Bush. Sure, he has flaws, but no greater than any other politicial and he’s the best leader we could have when compared to the alternatives. It makes me proud in a way to know that we elected a leader and have kept him in office for so many years because I believe he has done a great amount of good for our country and he’s simply more likable than any other politician I’ve ever seen… It will be a sad day when he leaves office in less than 18 months… As much as I dislike much of government, he has done as much good for Canada and the world as any other leader in my lifetime…
“You know, we have to show solidarity. It’s a quality that exists in Canada,” Chretien said.
“We might have our differences at times but when somebody is in difficulty and has suffered pain like these families have had to suffer, we want to show support. For me, it was important to come.”
“Now the world is trying to understand the attacks launched against Washington and the World Trade Centre. And here in Gander and everywhere else in Canada, we see the most admirable side of human nature.”
GANDER, NFLD. – A Newfoundland town played host to thousands of people who gathered Wednesday to remember the Sept. 11 attacks and the safe harbour Canadians provided to stranded travellers.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Paul Cellucci, the American ambassador to Canada, attended the memorial service for the victims of the terrorist attacks.
A commemorative plaque was unveiled recognizing the help Newfoundlanders gave to thousands of stranded airline passengers.
More than 6,500 people and 37 planes were diverted to Gander, a town of 10,000 people.
The prime minister met families of some of the Canadian victims before flying to New York for afternoon and sunset events.
Sept. 11, 2001, happened “like a clap of thunder,” Chrétien told the crowd.
“On our television screens we saw the dark side of human nature unleash itself savagely, showing itself in all its horror, showing itself to a world which was overwhelmed,” he said.
Gander Mayor Claude Elliot said what he remembers most about the day was how fast volunteers came forward to help.
“I’d say within an hour we had at least 5,000 volunteers mobilized, ready to move,” he said. (Apollo’s note: That’s over half the population of Gander!)
3 comments on “Jean Chrétien”
Yep. A lot of people don’t realize just how great the PM has been for our country. People forget he was instrumental under Trudeau’s government, as well as Pearson’s. He helped form our current constitution. He helped in stopping some of the controversial things Mulrooney was doing (Although PC supporters would deny they were the wrong move for the country, I think we would be hard pressed to have an agreement among the provinces on the issues…). And so on.
He’s had a great career, and I’m very sad to see he’s being pushed out so readily by members of his own party; his own cabinet. Sad indeed.
Yeah, I just wish there was someone worthy of replacing him, but I just don’t see anyone I could have the same trust in… not one person in all of Canadian politics
Manley (Minister of Finance, Deputy PM, and my own MP) isn’t so bad, but he’s got his flaws, too.
Rock, I liked a lot, but the whole cipro disaster makes me wonder about his judgement.
Copps… you’ve gotta be kidding me. 😛
Martin… *sigh* I don’t like the guy. He’s too neo-liberal in his economic thinking for my tastes. I tend towards the far left when it comes to economy.
So yeah, I guess we aren’t left with much.