Aline Chretien, an unsung hero of Canadian politics and wife of former Prime Minister has died. According to a family spokesperson, she died in the presence of her family members at her home in Shawinigan, Quebec recently. She was 84 years old and what led to her death has not been specified.
While talking about her, Eddie Goldenberg, a long time Chretien aide said: “Prime Minister Chretien, I think, would be the first to say that without her he never would have been prime minister.
“She knew very well that she had not been elected herself so she didn’t try to take the limelight. She felt that would be the wrong thing to do. She felt her role was to be supportive and … to be very candid with advice and she could do that best in private.”
Aline had a great input in every political decision made by Chretien. The decisions include staying in the federal arena in spite of appeals in the 60s to vie for a seat in Quebec’s National Assembly, quitting politics after losing the Liberal leadership to John Turner in 1986, returning to politics in 1990 and seeking a third consecutive mandate in 2000.
She also saved Chretien’s life on November 5, 1995 when a jackknife-wielding, mentally impaired intruder burgled into the Prime Minister’s official residence in the middle of the night. After facing him in the hall in front of their bedroom, Aline shut and locked the door before she called the RCMP guardhouse and woke her husband, who then armed himself with a soapstone carving of a loon.
It was the same Aline that advised Chretien to onboard academic and future Liberal leader Stephane Dion to his cabinet after Canada had a near-death experience in the 1995 referendum on Quebec independence.
All through his political journey, Aline warned her husband whenever she felt he was loud, aggressive or embarking on the wrong course of action.
While talking further about Aline, Goldenberg said: “Those of us who worked for prime minister Chretien knew sometimes, if there was a problem, that she was, (as) I called it, the last court of appeal.
“We could call her and say, ‘I’d like it if you could talk to your husband about something because he’s not listening to anybody else.’ And he sure listened to her — always.”
In Hilary Clintons autobiography, Aline was described as “intelligent, sharply observant and elegant.”
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau has sympathized with the Chretien family. While sympathizing with the family, Trudeau described Aline as “a strong mother, and a devoted wife for over 60 years, who tirelessly supported one of Canada’s longest serving prime ministers during some of the country’s most pivotal moments.”
Trudeau said: “We owe a great debt to Aline, who faithfully served Quebecers and all Canadians, championed multiculturalism and bilingualism, and helped bring us closer together. Authentic and honest, she taught us the importance of persevering, even when things get tough.”
