"It is outrageous for Jean Chrétien today to try and whitewash his role at St. The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report documented the physical and sexual abuse and malnutrition suffered by children in the schools.Īt a news conference in Ottawa along with residential schools survivors, New Democrat MP Charlie Angus said he simply doesn't believe Chrétien. The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at residential school sites across Canada over the summer revived conversations around the discriminatory system designed to assimilate Indigenous children. For sure, life in boarding school was difficult, extremely difficult."Ĭhrétien's comments drew immediate criticism. "I had my share of baked beans and oatmeal. "I was a boarding student, from age six to 21," he said. "Never."Ĭhrétien, who was minister of Indian affairs from 1968 to 1974, said he knew residential schools existed and how difficult the experience was, drawing a comparison with his own time in conventional boarding schools. "This problem was never mentioned to me when I was minister," Chrétien told the popular Quebec TV talk show "Tout le monde en parle,' Sunday night. Above all, these stories illustrate Jean Chrétien’s firm belief that we must never cease searching for common ground despite our differences.MONTREAL - Former prime minister Jean Chrétien says the abuse of Indigenous children that took place in Canadian residential schools while he was minister of Indian affairs was never brought to his attention at the time. Jean Chrétien’s stories serve to remind us that there is more to unite than divide us as a country, and that we have institutions we can take enormous pride in and values we must strive to maintain and keep building upon. With a delightful randomness, he remembers events and personalities that shaped our nation in a multitude of ways, and offers his views on international current events, including Canada-China relations, Brexit, and interprovincial dealings. This collection of essays features his trademark candour and ever-sharp political acumen, with plenty of wit to accompany the wisdom. With a career that spanned decades and an active retirement after that, it should come as no surprise that Jean Chrétien’s illuminating, perceptive and often humorous stories could not be contained in just one book.
With anecdotes and reflections both serious and light-hearted, My Stories, My Times, Volume 2 is a unique window on our country from one of its greatest statesmen and patriots. Following on the heels of his bestselling collection of political reminiscences, former Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien still has a few more stories to tell.
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