Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was born in Shawinigan, Québec on January 11, 1934. He is the youngest son of Wellie Chrétien and Marie Boisvert-Chrétien. He married Aline Chaîné also of Shawinigan in 1957. They have raised three children: France, Hubert and Michel, and they have four grandchildren.

The Prime Minister has been a member of Parliament for over 30 years. He has been elected 11 times as an MP. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1963 representing his hometown riding of Saint-Maurice--Laflèche. He was re-elected in 1965, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1980, and 1984. Between 1986 and 1990, he worked in private business. He was re-elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament in 1990 for the riding of Beauséjour (New Brunswick). He was re-elected to his home riding in 1993 and 1997.

He was first appointed to Cabinet in 1967. Before becoming Prime Minister, Mr. Chrétien served in almost every major Cabinet post in the government including: Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice – where he played an important role in the creation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce, and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. But he also tells people that among his favourite years as a Minister were spent as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

In June of 1990, Mr. Chrétien was elected Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. He was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons on December 21, 1990.

On October 25, 1993 the Liberal Party won a majority of seats in the House of Commons under his leadership, making him the 20^th Prime Minister of Canada. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on November 4, 1993. 

As Prime Minister, he was re-elected Member of Parliament for the riding of St-Maurice on November 27, 2000 with his party winning a third consecutive majority of seats in the House of Commons.