Chrétien speaks out against Canadian military mission in Iraq

Former prime minister Jean Chretien stepped up his criticism of Canada’s military combat mission against Islamist extremists in Iraq Monday, warning it is just the latest in a long history of interventions by western countries that have left “scars” on the Middle East.

In a conference call with journalists, Chretien described Canada’s military contribution of CF-18 fighter jets as “marginal” and “expensive.”

Jean Chrétien defends Trudeau’s opposition to Iraq combat mission

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien is defending Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s controversial decision to oppose Canada’s air combat mission in Iraq, saying the fighter planes the Harper government is deploying are a “very marginal” response to the crisis caused by Islamic State militants.

“I believe the best ‎contribution Canada can make is by engaging in massive, not token, humanitarian assistance. It is why in answer to the questions asked of me, I support the position of Justin Trudeau,” Mr. Chrétien writes in a column to be published in Friday's Globe and Mail.

Jean Chretien: Iraq Mission 'A Done Deal'

OTTAWA - Former prime minister Jean Chretien says the federal government's decision to send special forces to northern Iraq to help fight an extremist group could pull Canada into further commitments in the region.

In an interview with CBC radio, Chretien says Canada is now fully a part of the action being taken against the extremist al-Qaida splinter group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.

4 former prime ministers, 4 rebukes of Stephen Harper’s foreign policy

I'm told that there used be a time when former presidents and prime ministers didn't criticize their successors.

It doesn't look like that unwritten rule exists anymore, at least not in Canada and at least not when it comes to foreign policy.

Over the past week, Jean Chrétien has been on some sort of media tour 'celebrating' the tenth anniversary of his decision not to send troops to Iraq.

He's also taken the opportunity to chide the current regime's record.

Saying 'no' to Iraq War was 'important' decision for Canada: Chretien

As the 10th anniversary of the bloody Iraq War approaches, former prime minister Jean Chretien says he has no regrets about rejecting Canada’s participation in the U.S.-led mission.

“It was a very important decision, no doubt about it. It was, in fact, the first time ever that there was a war that the Brits and the Americans were involved and Canada was not there,” Chretien told CTV’s Power Play.

Happy strangle-a-protester day

Seventeen years ago today, my colleague Rob Benzie reminds me, Canada had its first Flag Day -- which prime minister Jean Chretien marked by putting  a chokehold on a protester at Jacques Cartier park.

I have become convinced that everything we need to know about modern politics, or at least the kind we're living with today, was foretold in the events and the reaction that day. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, took careful note of how things unfolded and is applying some of the lessons today.

Charter architects unanimous about its future

They were three architects of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and while they may hold contrasting views on its impact so far on Canadian law, all agree on what’s likely to come in the future.

The trio – former Ontario attorney-general Roy McMurtry, former Saskatchewan attorney-general Roy Romanow and constitutional adviser John Whyte – predict that future challenges to the Charter will centre on equality guarantees as well as the open-ended guarantee of life, liberty and security.

They say electronic surveillance – particularly in the context of national security and privacy issues – will likely be a dominant theme.

The three are among a small band of political leaders and consultants who launched the Charter into uncertain waters on April 17, 1982.

Future decisions will be influenced by a new breed of judges, who were trained in constitutional law after the Charter was enacted and who feel comfortable with the notion that Charter decisions change laws and society itself, Mr. Romanow said.

If the War of 1812 warrants commemoration, so does the patriation of the Constitution: Chretien Read it on Global News: Global News | If the War of 1812 warrants commemoration, so does the patriation of the Constitution: Chretien

MONTREAL - Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien was left scratching his head after learning the government had no plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"For me, I think it was a very important moment... You know, we were still legally a colony of Great Britain," he said in a feature one-on-one interview on The West Block with Tom Clark.

The Conservative government is anything but shy of the country's history, as evidenced by recent moves to highlight Canada's ties to the monarchy and planning an elaborate celebration to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

The bicentennial, which Chretien acknowledged marks a "very important" milestone, is acting as the beginning of the five-year countdown to Canada's 150th birthday in 2017.

But the fact that the Conservatives are celebrating that and not the Constitution -- the document that gave Canada full political independence from the United Kingdom, and formed the moral fibre of Canada's governing system and its citizens' civil rights and liberties -- baffles the former prime minister.