Q&A with Jean Charest

Professionally Speaking interviewed Jean Charest, the 29th premier of Québec and former deputy prime minister of Canada, and one of the keynote speakers at this year’s College conference, Inspiring Public Confidence. Read on to hear his thoughts on transparency, his favourite teacher and lessons learned.

Professionally Speaking: Your public service career extended almost 30 years. What is the most important lesson you learned during that time?

Jean Charest: You have to be passionate about life. I have a deep love for Canada and its people. You have to continually relearn how to be a good listener. If I could go back and change one thing, I would have worked harder to communicate more often and more effectively.

PS: Did you make mistakes?

JC: Oh, yes! I always joked with cabinet members that they should never repeat the same mistake, because there are so many new mistakes to make. If you take risks, you’re going to make mistakes, and you have to learn from them. My mistakes weren’t due to negligence — I made them because I believe that change happens if you take action and thus run the risk of making mistakes.

PS: Your government tried to establish a college of teachers in Québec. Why was that important and why was the idea abandoned?

JC: It was inspired by the Ontario model. In the first year of our mandate, we passed some controversial laws that were unpopular with unions. I realize that we — and I as premier — did not do enough to communicate our goals. As a result, we were misunderstood and failed to earn support. So we abandoned the project. I still think it’s a good idea. The goal was to support teachers and foster the public’s respect for the teaching profession.

PS: Why is transparency so important when it comes to government?

JC: It establishes trust in a context where the public has to be continually reassured. It’s important to communicate in a way that really reaches people.

PS: How can you satisfy the public’s desire for transparency while ensuring that disciplinary hearings remain fair for all parties involved?

JC: That’s a challenge! You need to explain the process to the public, which isn’t always easy. In defending basic rights, you sometimes come up against a populist belief [touted by] the media that everything should be out in the open.

PS: Tell us about a teacher who influenced you.

JC: I had a Grade 5 teacher, Serge Christiaenssens, who was also a professional actor. History class was always an event: he played all sorts of characters and completely captivated us. He made me fall in love with history.

PS: If you could spend a day with any person in history, who would it be?

JC: I am not very religious, but I think I’d choose Pope John Paul II. People underrate his accomplishments. He played a key role in the fall of communism and affected the lives of millions of people. The Berlin Wall would never have fallen without him. His work behind the scenes had a significant impact.

PS: What character traits do you appreciate in your colleagues?

JC: I always find it helpful when people around me are frank and direct. In politics, people often stop speaking openly to whoever is in charge because they’re dealing with intimidating individuals.

When you’re in a position of authority, like premier, it’s not easy for a deputy minister or assistant deputy minister to say, “Frankly, you’ve made a serious mistake.” You have to create a stimulating work environment that allows people to be at their best.

When it comes to politics, people don’t realize how strong your relationships are, the kind of friendships you forge.

PS: What are some traits you dislike?

JC: Intolerance, closed-mindedness, laziness, people who don’t listen, and those who love to hear themselves talk.

PS: Do people soften with age?

JC: Very much.

With age comes happiness. You learn not to take things too seriously, that it’s OK to be contradicted. And you learn to accept that life doesn’t always go according to plan.

This is a good question for teachers, because I think adolescence is one of the hardest periods in life. These are very intense years, full of great joy and discovery. But at the same time, our clothes are always either too big or too small. It’s a difficult period for young people and a challenge for the teachers who guide them.

You realize all this later in life, when you reach the end of your 40s. The people I know in their 50s are often happier than they were at 30 or 40.