House of Commons (Legislative Reports)
By Canadian Parliamentary Review
- Release Date: 2003-12-22
- Genre: Law
Description
Prime Minister Jean Chretien's recent announcement that he will step down effective December 12, 2003 marked the end of his forty-years in the House of Commons. While signs indicated he was intending to leave prior to his announced date of February 2004, news of the transition date came only as the outgoing Prime Minister met with Paul Martin in Ottawa following the Liberal leadership convention in mid-November. A number of bills made it through the Commons and the Senate in late October and early November as rumours of a prorogation spread. On Thursday November 6th, 2003, a spokesperson from each party paid tribute to Mr. Chretien. Statements were made by Charles Caccia, the longest serving Liberal Member, John Reynolds, House Leader for the Official Opposition, Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Quebecois, former Prime Minister Joe Clark (PC) and Bill Blaikie, one of the longest serving Members of the New Democratic Party. Mr. Chretien responded to the tributes with what would be his last speech in the House as Prime Minister.
