Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien: Tough Because He Had to Be

Canada’s Longest Serving Environment Minister David Anderson discusses current events and a career with the federal Liberal Party spanning five decades.Canadians interested in federal politics, current public affairs and British Columbia issues can listen to Canada’s-longest serving Environment Minister and five-term Vancouver Island Liberal Member of Parliament discuss current issues and a federal Liberal Party record spanning five decades. First elected as a Vancouver Island MP for Esquimalt-Saanich in 1968 with Pierre Trudeau’s first government, David became BC Liberal Leader and Victoria MLA in 1972.  He returned to politics in 1993 as MP for Victoria with the election of Prime Minister Jean Chretien.From 1993 to 2004, David held a series of federal Cabinet portfolios. In addition to Environment, David served as Minister of Transport, Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans. He also served as Prime Minister Chretien’s senior political Minister for British Columbia.In the fifth episode, David talks about his service during Jean Chretien’s government between 1993 and 2003. As a former Minister responsible for the Canadian Coast Guard, David discusses the timely issue of Canada’s northern sovereignty.  We go behind the scenes when Prime Minister Chretien decided not to support the US War in Iraq and get’s David’s take on the internal Liberal party leadership dispute that led to his eventual retirement from federal politics in 2006.David also discusses Mr. Chretien’s leadership and shares a story of a memorable BC fishing trip.