Rare 44/4dD Operation Overland Signed J
Chrétien Prime Minister of Canada
6 Jun 1994 Canda on Canadain 17c Stamp & 6 June 94 United Kingdom on 25p D Day
stamp Operation Overland The Air Force Flown in Hercules over drop zones in
Normandy then returned back RAF Lyneham
Personally Signed by Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien PC OM CC
QC Prime Minister of Canada
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien PC OM CC QC (born January 11,
1934), known commonly as Jean Chrétien. A a former Canadian politician who was
the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten
years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003.
Born and raised in Shawinigan, Quebec, Chrétien is a law
graduate from Université Laval. He was first elected to the Canadian House of
Commons in 1963. He served in various cabinet posts under prime minister Pierre
Trudeau, most prominently as Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, and
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. He also served as deputy
prime minister in John Turner's short-lived government. He became leader of the
Liberal Party of Canada in 1990, and led the party to a majority government in
the 1993 federal election. He was re-elected with further majorities in 1997
and 2000.
Chrétien was strongly opposed to the Quebec sovereignty
movement and supported official bilingualism and multiculturalism. He won a
narrow victory as leader of the federalist camp in the 1995 Quebec Referendum,
and then pioneered the Clarity Act to avoid ambiguity in future referendum
questions. He also advanced the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Parliament.
Although his popularity and that of the Liberal Party were seemingly
unchallenged for three consecutive federal elections, he became subject to
various political controversies in the later years of his premiership. He was
accused of inappropriate behaviour in the Sponsorshi Scandal, although he has
consistently denied any wrongdoing. He also became embroiled in a protracted
inner-party struggle against long-time political rival Paul Martin. He resigned
as prime minister in December 2003, and left public life Certified Copy 10 of
16 Signed project officer. Sqn Ldr D Hill