VANCOUVER – Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Herb Dhaliwal, a former MP-Minister in the Chretien government, shared a great working relationship during their long time together in power in Ottawa.
The two old pals met up recently during Chretien’s visit to Vancouver as part of his still active law career, even though Chretien is in his 80s.
Dhaliwal told The LINK that the two shared fond memories of their old days and what the new leader Justin Trudeau needs to do win the next election.
“I think people are ready for a change and we need to tell Canadians that we are that change,” Dhaliwal said. “I agree with Chretien that the Liberal leader and the party needs to be very aggressive in the coming election campaign and not be afraid to take it to the opposition which is Stephen Harper, who has been a complete failure on all fronts – including the Economic front.
“We left them with a big surplus ($13 billion) and look what they have done – it’s been nothing but deficits and even their recently announced balanced budget now looks like $1 billion deficit. Harper has been a total disaster for the country,” Dhaliwal said.
Dhaliwal said Chretien talked about the Liberals and the NDP coming together to form the next government cause by all counts it will be a minority government.
“While I think that our party can work with the NDP on what happens on October 19 when Canadians go to the polls to decide the next government but Mr. Trudeau has taken the right approach in saying that the Liberal party seeks to form the next government and that is our goal at this moment,” he said.
On the issue of controversial and over reaching Bil C-51, Dhaliwal said that while security is important but there should have been a sunset clause that would have allowed the bill to expire in 3-5 years, similar to Chretien’s government when they brought in the anti-terrorism bill following the 9-11 attacks in the US.
Both Dhaliwal and Chretien will be part of the campaign to bring the Liberals back to power even though the former Prime Minister is busy with a hectic schedule, which includes Chretien being the Chair of an organization that brings together former world leaders to discuss important international issues.
