Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien is a Canadian lawyer, politician who served as the Prime Minister of Canada from November 1993 to December 2003. Born and raised in Quebec, Chretien studied law and his first tryst with politics happened in the year 1963, when he was elected a member of Canadian House of Commons. He is known for his roles in patriation of the Canadian Constitution and the Canadian Charters of Rights and Freedom. Being in the good books of the then Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, helped Jean in moving through different positions within the ministry such as Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Upon becoming the leader of the Liberal Party in 1990 and winning the elections in 1993, he was named the 20th Prime Minister of Canada, and remained in the post until 2003. The Canadian federal government enjoyed its first surplus in more than 30 years under Jean’s reign as the Prime Minister. It wasn’t all a bed of roses as Jean decided to send Canadian troops to support the USA in the war against Afghanistan, but refused to send help during subsequent American invasion of Iraq, a move which polarised his supporters.