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Division of University Relations
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Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1047
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CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER TO ADDRESS MSU'S ADVANCED DEGREE CANDIDATES
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Jean Chretien, the Prime Minister of Canada since 1993, will address Michigan State University's candidates for advanced degrees Friday, May 7.
The ceremony is set for 7 p.m. in the Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
"Jean Chretien is an outstanding world leader. He has had a very distinguished political career," said MSU President Peter McPherson. "Because of the special relationship Michigan and MSU have with Canada, we are honored to have Prime Minister Chretien speak to our advanced degree candidates."
Mr. Chretien's distinguished career in politics spans more than 30 years, beginning with his first election to the House of Commons in 1963 where he represented the constituency of Saint-Maurice-Lafleche in the province of Quebec. He was re-elected in 1965.
In 1965 he was appointed parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and in 1966 to the minister of finance. In 1967 he became minister of state attached to the minister of finance and in 1968 was appointed minister of national revenue.
He returned to the House of Commons in 1968, representing a new constituency of Saint-Maurice and was sworn in as minister of Indian affairs and northern development, a post he held until 1974 when he was appointed president of the Treasury Board.
In 1976 he was appointed minister of industry, trade and commerce and in 1977 became minister of finance, a Cabinet post he held until 1979. He returned to the House of Commons for a sixth consecutive term in the May 22, 1979 election.
Mr. Chretien was appointed minister of justice and attorney general of Canada and minister of state for social development in 1980 and was also given the additional task of minister responsible for constitutional negotiations. In 1982 he was named minister of energy, mines and resources.
In 1984 he was appointed deputy Prime Minister and secretary of state for external affairs and re-elected as the member of parliament for Saint-Maurice and critic for external affairs. He resigned from the House of Commons in 1986.
In 1990 he was elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and as a member of parliament, where he served as leader of the opposition of the House of Commons.
He was re-elected member of parliament in 1993 when his party won a majority of seats in the House of Commons and was sworn in as Prime Minister on Nov. 4, 1993.
As Prime Minister, he was re-elected member of parliament for the riding of St. Maurice on June 2, 1997, with his party winning a second consecutive majority of seats in the House of Commons.
He was born in Shawinigan, Quebec, Jan. 11, 1934. After attending schools in Shawinigan, Joliette and Trois-Rivieres he studied law at Laval University.
Mr. Chretien has received honorary degrees from many universities, including the University of Western Ontario, York University, Glendon College in Toronto, the University of Alberta in Edmonton, the University of Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier University, Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan, and The Warsaw School of Economics in Poland.
He and his wife, Alaine, have three children, France, Hubert and Michel.
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