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The craftiness of Jean Chrétien: according to @stpierre_ch's newly published memoir, Chrétien intentionally boosted support for the Bloc québécois in the 1997 election to undercut Jean Charest's Conservatives.
(From https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2020-09-01/l-automne-litteraire-des-politiciens-quebecois.php)
(From https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2020-09-01/l-automne-litteraire-des-politiciens-quebecois.php)
Of course, we already knew that the Liberals played hardball in that election, via the revelations from the sponsorship scandal. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/liberal-says-he-gave-candidates-secret-cash/article4117484/
Elections were always hotly contested in Jean Chrétien's riding because this mostly federalist of prime ministers came from an economically hard-hit bellwether area that could swing against the Liberals.
One other story about Chrétien's ruthlessness, via Pierre St-Arnaud of Presse canadienne. In the 93 election, the Bloc’s slogan was “Le vrai pouvoir” - the real power.
Trois-Rivières elects a Bloc MP but the Liberals win the election, Chrétien becomes PM...
Trois-Rivières elects a Bloc MP but the Liberals win the election, Chrétien becomes PM...
...a bunch of federal jobs are transferred from Trois-Rivières to Chrétien's neighbouring riding.
When the people of Trois-Rivières grumble about it, Chrétien replies, “Tell them to talk to their MP, I hear he’s got `le vrai pouvoir’.”
When the people of Trois-Rivières grumble about it, Chrétien replies, “Tell them to talk to their MP, I hear he’s got `le vrai pouvoir’.”
