Chretien’s farewell gift: A simple flag, not a gold watch

Newly released cabinet minutes reveal that after a decade as Prime Minister, Jean Chretien received a modest farewell gift — a flag flown from the Peace Tower.

Blacklock's Reporter says the gesture, which mirrored gifts given to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s widow and a community group in Bognor, Ont., marked the end of Chretien’s tenure.

“The Deputy Prime Minister opened the meeting by paying tribute to the Prime Minister on the occasion of his government’s tenth anniversary,” noted the confidential minutes from the November 4, 2003 cabinet session.

“Ministers presented the Prime Minister with the Canadian flag flown on the Peace Tower. The Prime Minister acknowledged the government’s accomplishments over the past decade, including balancing the budget.”

The documents, obtained through Access To Information, did not record Chretien’s reaction to the gift. However, the minutes detailed his reflections on his time in office.

“The Prime Minister opened his final cabinet meeting with words of appreciation to all ministers for a "great run" over the last ten years in government,” the records stated.

Chretien emphasized that his decade in leadership had strengthened Canada.

“The last ten years had been a good period for Canada, and the country was in much better shape today than at the beginning of his government,” he said, while acknowledging that the upcoming election would pose greater challenges than before.

The Department of Public Works changes the Peace Tower flag daily and manages a waiting list of Canadians who request one.

However, flags may also be allocated at a minister’s discretion for military personnel, athletes, or special occasions. Past recipients have included Renata Ford, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and community organizations.

Chretien identified his most significant achievements as eliminating the federal deficit in 1997 and keeping Canadian combat troops out of the 2003 Iraq War.

“He drew particular attention to the government’s international policies, stating Canadians were proud of the government’s decision on Iraq, a decision that won the respect of many countries around the world,” the minutes recorded.

As he bid farewell, Chretien assured his colleagues that he had no regrets.

“He recognized that high points and low points as well as comings and goings are all integral parts of politics,” the minutes noted.

Urging ministers to uphold the Liberal tradition, he encouraged them to stay true to Canada’s heritage and values of tolerance, sharing, and generosity.