After Quebec's brush with sovereignty in the 1995 referendum, Jean Chrétien's government decided to spend millions promoting federalism in Quebec.Paul Chiasson
Jean Chrétien was released from a Montreal hospital Monday afternoon just three days after undergoing brain surgery to remove a pool of blood on his brain.
"He could go, so he left as fast as he could," said Bruce Hartley, the former Liberal prime minister's long-time spokesman.
Mr. Chrétien, 76, prides himself in keeping in good shape. He doesn't like to sit still for long.
He skiis, golfs and has an active law practice.
But Mr. Hartley said the doctors have told his boss that there is to be "no golfing for a few weeks. No work and no golf."
Mr. Chrétien, he says, is in "great spirits." He is going to his Shawinigan cottage to recuperate.
The former politician was experiencing some numbness and difficulty balancing last week, so his daughter, France Desmarais, insisted that he go to hospital.
That's when the blood pool was detected. It was found to be putting pressure on his brain, causing the symptoms.
It's not clear how the blood came to pool in the head cavity but Liberal Senator Jim Munson said in an interview this morning that Mr. Chrétien had hit his head at his cottage recently on a low ceiling going down the basement.
The operation to remove the subdural hematoma was performed at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital.
Senator Munson, meanwhile, said that he, Mr. Hartley and another friend, Steven Hogue (all three worked for Mr. Chrétien's PMO) have an annual golf game in Shawinigan with Mr. Chrétien around this time.
They will be delaying the game but still traveling to Shawinigan for a visit.