Chrétien to PM: 'Can I call you Steve, like George W.?'

Last Updated: Saturday, December 2, 2006 | 5:39 PM ET

CBC News

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien launched a scathing attack on Stephen Harper Saturday as he took the podium in front of a Liberal audience for the first time in three years.

Chrétien, speaking before results from the fourth and final ballot to determine the party's next leader were announced in Montreal, uncorked arguably the most direct and clever jabs at Harper of the entire convention, in which the Tory prime minister was a popular target.

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien speaks before his first Liberal audience in three years.
(CBC)

"Stephen, can I call you Steve, like George W.?" he said, garnering a large laugh from the audience of 5,000 Liberal delegates.

"Do not adjust your set," Chrétien said following the rapturous applause. "What you see is what you're going to get."

Chrétien cited international response he gauged during a recent trip to China and Europe over the Harper government abandoning Canada's emissions-cutting targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

"We are losing a lot of ground," he said. "Everybody expected us to follow the rule that when a country gave its word, it would keep its word."

The Conservatives have said the targets cannot be realistically met.

Chrétien also slammed Harper's handling of China at the recent APEC summit in Hanoi.

"Engage them, don't insult them," he said, in reference to Harper's criticism of China's human rights record ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Martin part of 'old, great Liberal family'

Chrétien, who led the Liberals to three consecutive majority governments, said the next leader must remember he is guiding the party that brought Canadians the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, eliminated the deficit and opposed the war in Iraq.

He also offered brief praise to former prime minister Paul Martin and his wife, Sheila, who he said were part of the "old, great Liberal family."

He also recalled attending his first Liberal leadership convention as a young member of the Laval University Liberals Association.

"And I voted for Paul Martin Sr.," he said, earning a chuckle from even his successor and most bitter foe.

The convention, which was hoped to be a weekend of renewal for the Liberals from past fissures between camps loyal to Chrétien and those tied with Martin, was given a flash of the old conflicts Friday when Chrétien gave reporters his verdict on Martin's performance as prime minister.

"He didn't win," Chrétien said bluntly before delegates began voting.

When asked what made a good leader, Chrétien offered: "Somebody who wins."