Canada’s federal Liberals were gathered at Toronto’s storied Maple Leaf Gardens to elect his successor when the author of three majority victories in a row took to the stage. He used his address to highlight his government’s economic successes during the ten-years the Grits had held office with him at the helm.

“Everyone knows - the whole world knows - how we turned the finances of this country around. It was hard. It hurt,” he said. “Canadians made sacrifices. But we took that $42 billion deficit and turned it into six consecutive balanced budgets. Today we are the only G-7 country with a balanced budget. Today we lead the industrial world in fiscal responsibility.”

He then continued. “We in Canada are entering our seventh year in balance,” he said. “And not only that, we have also paid down more than ten percent of the national debt. In ten years, our economy has created three million new jobs. Interest rates are at their lowest levels in decades. Young families can afford to finance their homes. We have been able to pass on to the Canadian people the biggest tax cut in the history of Canada. We have been able to invest large sums of money in health care. And we have created the National Child Benefit which is the most important new social programme since Medicare.”

Chrétien left the stage but left his party with a final piece of advice. “My final message for you is simple. Trust Canadians. They are wise. They are generous. They care,” he said. “And above all, trust the young generation of Canadians that is coming up. I have a lot of faith in young Canadians today. There has never been a generation in history more sure of itself and its Canadian identity, and yet more in touch and involved in every corner of the world. They care. And they understand.”

A month later, Chrétien official handed off power to his successor, Paul Martin Jr.