CHRETIEN KEPT COUNTRY TOGETHER

This weekend's Liberal leadership convention is the beginning of the end of
Jean Chretien's tenure as Canada's Prime Minister, and even after 10 years
in office, he still doesn't get the respect he deserves.

While some of Chretien's actions have been questionable, he did so much
good for this country, such as saying no to the phony war in Iraq,
decriminalizing marijuana and legalizing same-sex marriages.

But his finest hour was during the 1995 referendum. When the country was on
the brink of falling apart, Chretien showed tremendous leadership and pride
as a Canadian. I firmly believe his leadership is what kept this country
together then and still holds it together now.

It's obvious that Chretien loves Canada. But I have always wondered whether
his opponents in the other parties have the same love for this country. You
can disagree with his policies, but no one can accuse Chretien of not
loving the country.

Chretien will now take his place alongside Wilfrid Laurier, William Lyon
Mackenzie King, Lester B. Pearson, and Pierre Trudeau as one of the
greatest prime ministers in our history.

Daniel McMillan, Brampton