Former prime minister Jean Chretien saluts after addressing the Liberal Party leadership in Ottawa, Sunday April 14, 2013. Chretien is celebrated his 80th birthday Saturday. Chretien - who was PM for more than a decade between 1993 and 2003 - says he had a party with 80 family and friends Friday night in Montreal to mark the occasion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
January 11, 2014 - 12:44 PM
MONTREAL - Former prime minister Jean Chretien is celebrating his 80th birthday today.
Chretien — who was PM for more than a decade between 1993 and 2003 — says he had a party with 80 family and friends Friday night in Montreal to mark the occasion.
The native of Shawinigan, Que. says he's in good health and would have gone skiing today if weren't for the freezing rain.
A charity fundraiser in his honour is planned for later this month in Toronto.
Chretien was first elected as a Liberal MP nearly 50 years ago, in April 1963.
He now works at a law firm in Ottawa and says he's still leaned on by politicians for advice — though he won't say who has sought his guidance.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014