Queen Elizabeth has appointed former prime minister Jean Chretien to the Order of Merit, placing him in the exclusive ranks of such figures as Albert Schweitzer, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela
I'm not a fan of either the Liberals or the Conservatives, yet I can pick a number of others who were more corrupt then Jean.... in fact, there's one currently running the nation now.
..... The honour is restricted to 24 living members and few foreigners. It puts Chretien's name alongside such esteemed figures as Albert Schweitzer, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.
Chretien said he was surprised, honoured and grateful.
"What can I say?" he told The Canadian Press on Monday. "I take it as a great compliment and I accept it with some humility.
"I did my job as best I could and Her Majesty was gracious enough to recognize that."
Chretien, 75, is just the third Canadian named to the order, after former prime ministers MacKenzie King, at 21 years the longest-serving prime minister in the Commonwealth, and Lester Pearson, a Nobel laureate who brought universal health care, the flag and a federal pension plan to Canada.
All are Liberals......
Me thinks there might be some Conservative jealousy
Back on topic a bit though, I still don't see a solid reason why he was given it.
Except this:
"I suspect that his role as justice minister in the '80s and as prime minister in the '90s and 2000s allowed Mr. Chretien and Her Majesty to build a solid relationship, one that the Queen felt deserved such a reward."
I guess
Oh wait, there's some more of a breakdown as to why he got it on the link I supplied... oh well.
"ridenrain" said Yup. Most corrupt ever. From the Grand-Mère Golf Course to ADSCAM, his was a legacy of abuse, corruption and arogance.
I disliked Cretien more than just about anyone (except maybe Mulroney), but I think you're full of crap. I don't know why he'd get the honour either, but really, who cares?
It's just my opinion and the queen didn't check with me about it. I don't recall any PM in recent history who had so many questions or investigations reguarding his abuse of authority. I'm suprised that Mr. Zacerdelli hasn't written a book yet but I gues if he did, he might have a "hunting accident in my living room" like former vice-president of Groupaction, told Charles Guité mentioned.
Ah bout time.. M.Chrétien one of the three best PMs in Canada ever.. King, Trudeau and Chrétien. At least the Royalty knows something good when they see it!
"There are very few foreign recipients, although those given the order have included Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Gen. [Dwight D.] Eisenhower, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Nelson Mandela," the website said.
Well whether or not you like Chretien or not I think we can all agree that it is an honour for any Canadian to have received this medal and we should concentrate on that as opposed to our views on the man himself. Judging from the list above we're in sitting in pretty good company.
I'll put down the error in QE2's judgment to the fact that she doesn't live in Canada and ever got to know genuine Chretien sleaze and criminality in the same unfortunate way the rest of us did. I suppose all these Orders and such are not exempt from bad decision-making when they get handed out. After all the Order of Canada was given to a pair of criminals like Alan Eagleson and Morgentaler, and the Queen also did make the previous embarassing mistake of giving a knighthood to Conrad Black. These orders and awards are probably really not worth all the undue hype that they generate if they invariably end up on occasion being given out to crooks, getaway drivers, , and bagmen like Chretien.
"Thanos" said Morgentaler's an evil mass murderer, and to politely avoid a side-track/trainwreck that's the last thing I'm going to say about it.
I say he's a civil rights champion and the Supreme Court of Canada agrees with me. That's the last I'll say also to avoid that collision...on this thread. I'm guessing we'll tango on this one at a later date.
I'm not a fan of either the Liberals or the Conservatives, yet I can pick a number of others who were more corrupt then Jean.... in fact, there's one currently running the nation now.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... hub=Canada
Chretien said he was surprised, honoured and grateful.
"What can I say?" he told The Canadian Press on Monday. "I take it as a great compliment and I accept it with some humility.
"I did my job as best I could and Her Majesty was gracious enough to recognize that."
Chretien, 75, is just the third Canadian named to the order, after former prime ministers MacKenzie King, at 21 years the longest-serving prime minister in the Commonwealth, and Lester Pearson, a Nobel laureate who brought universal health care, the flag and a federal pension plan to Canada.
All are Liberals......
Me thinks there might be some Conservative jealousy
Back on topic a bit though, I still don't see a solid reason why he was given it.
Except this:
I guess
Oh wait, there's some more of a breakdown as to why he got it on the link I supplied... oh well.
From the Grand-Mère Golf Course to ADSCAM, his was a legacy of abuse, corruption and arogance.
Yup. Most corrupt ever.
From the Grand-Mère Golf Course to ADSCAM, his was a legacy of abuse, corruption and arogance.
I disliked Cretien more than just about anyone (except maybe Mulroney), but I think you're full of crap. I don't know why he'd get the honour either, but really, who cares?
I don't recall any PM in recent history who had so many questions or investigations reguarding his abuse of authority. I'm suprised that Mr. Zacerdelli hasn't written a book yet but I gues if he did, he might have a "hunting accident in my living room" like former vice-president of Groupaction, told Charles Guité mentioned.
http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/ ... 27e&k=3652
Well whether or not you like Chretien or not I think we can all agree that it is an honour for any Canadian to have received this medal and we should concentrate on that as opposed to our views on the man himself. Judging from the list above we're in sitting in pretty good company.
Morgentaler's an evil mass murderer, and to politely avoid a side-track/trainwreck that's the last thing I'm going to say about it.
I say he's a civil rights champion and the Supreme Court of Canada agrees with me. That's the last I'll say also to avoid that collision...on this thread. I'm guessing we'll tango on this one at a later date.