Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was notably absent from King Charles III’s ceremonial address in Ottawa this week after undergoing a minor but necessary heart procedure.
The 91-year-old Liberal icon was admitted to Ottawa Civic Hospital on Monday after experiencing discomfort and was later transferred to the Ottawa Heart Institute. There, doctors performed a minimally invasive procedure to implant a stent — a common intervention used to treat arterial blockages and restore healthy blood flow.
Chrétien’s longtime spokesperson, Bruce Hartley, confirmed the procedure in a public statement, assuring Canadians that the former prime minister is “recovering well and is expected to return home very soon to pursue his normal activities.”
The medical team used an endovascular technique, placing a small metal mesh tube in one of Chrétien’s arteries to keep it open and reduce the risk of further complications — a standard practice for patients with cardiovascular concerns.
Chrétien had been scheduled to join other former prime ministers — including Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, and Kim Campbell — at the Senate chamber for the King’s speech. He was reportedly expected to walk in with Harper before being hospitalized.
Though the procedure was unplanned, sources say it was necessary and carried out promptly. Just weeks earlier, Chrétien had been actively campaigning for the Liberal Party across Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, where he remained a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling his early leadership “impressive” for someone new to elected office.
In a recent interview marking his 90th birthday, Chrétien famously expressed his determination to “die standing,” inspired by the tireless service of Queen Elizabeth II. His absence from the royal ceremony marks a rare moment of pause in an otherwise relentless public life.