Jean Chrétien absent from King’s address due to minor heart surgery

OTTAWA — Former prime minister Jean Chrétien was conspicuously absent from the highly-anticipated King Charles III address in Ottawa on Tuesday because the 91-year-old was admitted to the hospital for a minor heart surgery.

“Yesterday, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was admitted to the Ottawa Civic hospital after feeling unwell. He has since been transferred to the Ottawa Heart Institute, where he received a stent,” wrote Bruce Hartley, Chrétien’s spokesperson, in a statement.

Endovascular stent surgery is a minimally invasive procedure to treat blockages and aneurysms in arteries. According to the Ottawa Heart Institute, a stent is a “small metal mesh tube” implanted in a narrowed part of the artery to prevent it from blocking again.

Hartley added: “Mr. Chrétien is recovering well and is expected to return home very soon to pursue his normal activities.”

Chrétien was expected to attend the King’s address in the Senate along with other former prime ministers — Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell. In fact, Chrétien was reportedly set to walk in with Harper before Chrétien was hospitalized.

“The operation was not planned, but necessary,” said a source close to the matter.

Chrétien told the Hill Times for his 90th birthday that he has no plans to retire, and he wants to “die standing” like King Charles’ late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did.

Only weeks ago, the former prime minister was out campaigning for the Liberal party in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. He predicted that the incumbent government would win a majority. In the end, Liberals are three seats short of the coveted majority.

Chrétien remarked at the time that Canadians had never been so united in his opinion because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to Canada and joked that he wanted to propose Trump for the Order of Canada for services rendered to the country.

Chrétien was also very complimentary of Prime Minister Mark Carney, saying that “he’s done well for somebody who is in politics for the first time.”

Two weeks ago, Chrétien also attended the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall.

— With files from Christopher Nardi.

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