Members for Democracy Archive

The Day They Almost Blew Up Jean Chretien

When we peek behind institutional shrouds, truth is often stranger than fiction. Scratch the surface of the polished "professional" images of our institutional leaders and you'll see that how they really are bears little resemblance to the spin-doctored persona they trot out for our benefit. The secret lives of big shots can be really fascinating. Behind the santimonious professionalism lurk sleazy guys motivated by self-interest who, when the curtains are drawn, spend their time lolling around with other sleazy guys.

This has been a banner week for shroud-ripping and sleazeball-gazing. First there were those startling revelations on an American blog about the secret lives of Liberal Party hacks and ad agency big shots in the adscam scandal. Those were subject to a publication ban at first but now that the word is out on the street, they aren't anymore.

Discussion in our forum about the publication ban and the ease with which the "banned" information can be located, led to yet another explosive revelation about some very strange bed mates: Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien (a major player in adscam) and Ron Kelly, the former priest 'n pedophile who became a real estate mogul thanks to the generous financial backing of the UFCW's CCWIPP pension plan.

The post, by forum contributor ISDU Potentate, is so sensational and provides such food for thought that we're reprinting it here in its entirety:

This is a great thread to tell a Liberal-god/Ron Kelly connection story. Some MfDers have heard it. We'll let the rest in on it now.

When Ron Kelly reopened the Triumph, it was as the 'Howard Johnson' hotel. Not the most upscale brand name. Now we used to get some interesting B-character types in the place. Potentate's most memorable...

a) a long line of hockey players that would come in for signings (Maurice Richard is a good example)

b) Ivana Trump and her then husband Mazzuchelli were regulars because of a 'home-shopping-network' studio that was in the area. The Potentate once showered the Mazz with a bottle of red wine. He and his suit weren't too pleased.

c) The Potentate was once locked in a room with all members of the Village People in half-costume. Never have dealt with that yet. This is a start.

That leads to our greatest guest EVER...

THE UDISHONOURABLE JEAN CHRETIEN!

This is going back to the mid-90s. Ron Kelly's buddy, Jean, and some fellow Liberals were 'convinced' to come to the hotel (the Howard Johnson at 2737 Keele St. in Toronto which was at the time owned by Kelly's company Kelloryn). Apparently the two were good friends. Would you stay at a HoJo instead of the Four Seasons for an enemy? Kelly had the "Prime Minister's Suite" put together on the 10th floor in expectation of this mega-star's arrival.

Just before the PM's arrival, the Potentate was instructed to deliver a giant basket up to the room for Shawinigan Boy Chretien. As he exited the 10th floor, two dogs the size of horses sniffed him and the package. RCMP officers did a background check on who made the basket and on whether the Potentate had washed his hands after his last piss.

Then Chretien showed up. At some point in the evening a meal was ordered. Room service was excited and prepared four hot dishes for him. These took up four levels in a HotBox (the metal box under a room service cart). Everything was great until the a**hole of a manager decided that he would deliver the food to our guest. F**k the employees. So after an argument, the staff decided not to help him...

Our manager looked at the metal hotbox and thought that he needed to keep the food warm. So instead of putting one sterno (the flaming can) into the box, he put... four. These sternos have to be extinguished upon arrival in the room, meaning the plates sit there with flame for about 5 minutes and then the hot metal takes over. But Chretien's people wanted him to leave the table outside the door. Which he did...

Estimates have the plates and box heating for 20 minutes inside Chretien's suite before they exploded and the table cloth caught fire, charred and set off the fire alarm. The table was kicked into the hallway and all hell broke loose.

Our shadier-than-Osama-bin-Laden manager was taken away for questioning, much to the delight of staff. The metal box came back down. It must have been bright red at some point. The super-thick plastic handle above it was melted flat.

Popular Toronto morning radio hosts Jesse and Gene tried calling the hotel for more info, but the story was "silenced". Staff were told not to talk about it. It happened though.

Let it be known, that we almost had Chretien! Vive la resistance!

This entertaining story raises a couple of serious issues: What do you suppose the Prime Minister of Canada (which Chretien was at the time) was doing holed up in a two star hotel (the one that is the focus of our Mondo Condo series) in an unremarkable Toronto suburb, the guest of the former Father Kelly? Is it possible that Chretien or his high-ranking hacks are mixed up in the tangled webs of big shots behind the UFCW's troubled pension plan? Tell us again how Cliff Evans (extra large UFCW big shot and Chairman of the CCWIPP Investment Committee) got appointed to the member of the International Trade Advisory Committee (by the Minister of International Trade)? Could this be the leak that blows the lid off?

Apart from the potential to expose institutional secrets, revelations by working people of the backroom antics of the high and mighty may be very useful in depriving the mighty of their power (much of which comes from their ability to roll around in the dirt when the shades are drawn). We see and hear a lot of things in the course of doing our jobs - whether in the boardroom or the hotel suite. We're told never to tell because it will hurt the boys who are doing the backroom boogie. Why should we care? What would happen if we collectively began spilling the beans? In the least, there would be a lot of interesting news. But more likely, the mighty would fall in large numbers.

quote:

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posted by Susan R This is small town BC - dependant on the forest industry. I believe, at one time, this town had the highest income per capita in all of Canada. Now, many people are barely surviving.

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Welcome, to the new B.C. order.

Yep, you had the corporations behind your town. Corporations have pulled out, sorry to say, no hope. You best get out while you can.

As I see it, in British Columbia - you have your northern - to whom no one gives a damn about ~ interior - sure lets give a damn about them..~ and your lower drainland folks, who think life is perfect.

I'm humbled Susan. The compliments and thread links overwhelmed me!

But most importantly... that kitty-cat image. I need the original!! I'm so entranced by it.

I want that cat.



PS. Noticed that RV edited my John to Jean. Let it be known that I was too tired to translate at the time.

You just have all the fun Pot.

"Well my friends, it has been a hell of a ride. I want to tank tonight the people of of da travel lodge who have shown der fire fighting skills. Wid out dem, I would not be here tonight. Vive le Ca na da!"