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Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien has his share of critics and his share of followers, but one thing they all agree on is that he's got a lot of balls, for better of for worse. One recent example is his testimony in front of a commision yesterday. Many people outside Canada (and for that matter, probably many Canadians as well) don't know about the whole AdScam scandal that's been plaguing our Liberal government, so before I get to the story, here's a brief recap of the back story.
In 1995, the province of Quebec had a referendum on the issue of seperation which resulted in a slim majority against it. As a result, the Liberal government decided to fund a campaign to promote nationalism in the province, a fund that has totalled about $250 million. The problem though was that a lot of that money is alleged to have been misappropriated, wasted, laundered, or used to encourage contributions for the Liberal party. An example would be the production of trinkets like 1200 golf balls with the Prime Minister's signature to be used as gifts.
Right now, an inquiry is being held, chaired by Justice John Gomery to determine the extent of any wrongdoing, including any implications to the former and current Prime Ministers, both of whom are to testify. Gomery recently made a flippant remark saying: "that's really small-town cheap, you know, free golf balls" to criticize the government spending on cheap trinkets.
Apparently the golf ball comment annoyed the former PM so during his session in front of the inquiry, he responded with his usual ballsy attitude to show how "small-town cheap" giving away golf balls was. the following is an actual transcript from the inquiry:
Just to give some more explanation of how biting the testimony was, the names mentioned from the Ogilvy Renault law firm of Westmount, an upscale neighbourhood of Montreal, were Bernard Roy, a co-council of this inquiry, Brian Mulroney, former PM and Conservative party leader, and Ms Sally Gomery, Justice Gomery's own daughter.
I thought I'd just share this story because it's funny, and also because Canadian politics often gets overlooked. Like him or not, you'd have to admit Jean Chretien has a lot of balls.
In 1995, the province of Quebec had a referendum on the issue of seperation which resulted in a slim majority against it. As a result, the Liberal government decided to fund a campaign to promote nationalism in the province, a fund that has totalled about $250 million. The problem though was that a lot of that money is alleged to have been misappropriated, wasted, laundered, or used to encourage contributions for the Liberal party. An example would be the production of trinkets like 1200 golf balls with the Prime Minister's signature to be used as gifts.
Right now, an inquiry is being held, chaired by Justice John Gomery to determine the extent of any wrongdoing, including any implications to the former and current Prime Ministers, both of whom are to testify. Gomery recently made a flippant remark saying: "that's really small-town cheap, you know, free golf balls" to criticize the government spending on cheap trinkets.
Apparently the golf ball comment annoyed the former PM so during his session in front of the inquiry, he responded with his usual ballsy attitude to show how "small-town cheap" giving away golf balls was. the following is an actual transcript from the inquiry:
Lawyer David Scott: You said you got golf balls from others. Who did you get them from? And do you have examples?
Chretien: Yes, yes. (Takes out weathered brown briefcase) I have a ball here with the seal of the president of the United States, and signed by a Texan by the name of George Bush. All right. What others? I have one here signed by a gentleman from Tennessee, Al Gore. With Capital Hill on the ball.
Scott: I'm just stopping you there if I might.
Chretien: No, no, no, no. It's too much fun. I have one ball here that was given to me, these balls here were given to me - a very nice presentation, Mr President - by a small town guy from Hope, Arkansas. Look at the nice box. His name, the seal, his balls, nice box, in the box you open and there is a ball signed again by a small town guy of Hope, Tennessee (sic), signed Bill Clinton, and the seal.
Scott: What seal?
Chretien: The seal of presidency of the United States. Here I have one from another guy from Texas, from small town Crawford, Texas, George W. Bush, with the seal of the presidency and his name signed. Here I have one from a small town guy, I guess, from Manila, Philippines, President Ramos, plus the flag of his country. And it's very common. I have one here from a very well-known group. Ogilvy Renault. You know them? Bernard Roy, Mr Mulroney, Mademoiselle Gomery are all members of that firm. You cannot call them small town, and to call them Westmount cheap, it would be an oxymoron.
Scott: All right Mr Chretien. Did you receive those golf balls from the persons you've identified?
Chretien: Yes. Only one was sent to me by others, it's from George W. Bush. The others I received from them.
Scott: And did you give them golf balls with the maple leaf and your signature on it?
Chretien: Yes. And I gave them to their bodyguards or their partners who were playing golf with us.
Scott: Thank you very much.
Chretien: Yes, yes. (Takes out weathered brown briefcase) I have a ball here with the seal of the president of the United States, and signed by a Texan by the name of George Bush. All right. What others? I have one here signed by a gentleman from Tennessee, Al Gore. With Capital Hill on the ball.
Scott: I'm just stopping you there if I might.
Chretien: No, no, no, no. It's too much fun. I have one ball here that was given to me, these balls here were given to me - a very nice presentation, Mr President - by a small town guy from Hope, Arkansas. Look at the nice box. His name, the seal, his balls, nice box, in the box you open and there is a ball signed again by a small town guy of Hope, Tennessee (sic), signed Bill Clinton, and the seal.
Scott: What seal?
Chretien: The seal of presidency of the United States. Here I have one from another guy from Texas, from small town Crawford, Texas, George W. Bush, with the seal of the presidency and his name signed. Here I have one from a small town guy, I guess, from Manila, Philippines, President Ramos, plus the flag of his country. And it's very common. I have one here from a very well-known group. Ogilvy Renault. You know them? Bernard Roy, Mr Mulroney, Mademoiselle Gomery are all members of that firm. You cannot call them small town, and to call them Westmount cheap, it would be an oxymoron.
Scott: All right Mr Chretien. Did you receive those golf balls from the persons you've identified?
Chretien: Yes. Only one was sent to me by others, it's from George W. Bush. The others I received from them.
Scott: And did you give them golf balls with the maple leaf and your signature on it?
Chretien: Yes. And I gave them to their bodyguards or their partners who were playing golf with us.
Scott: Thank you very much.
I thought I'd just share this story because it's funny, and also because Canadian politics often gets overlooked. Like him or not, you'd have to admit Jean Chretien has a lot of balls.
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