Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien confirmed that choosing the right time to step down and leave politics is simple, but it is "very personal."

Chrétien sat down with CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos for an extensive exclusive interview broadcast on Sunday to discuss how Canada has changed, when it's time to leave politics, and how to work with political opponents.

Chrétien, who held the country's top position for a decade and turned 90 this week, having recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of becoming Prime Minister and 60 years since becoming a Member of Parliament, said he is "having a good time at this stage of life."

Chrétien resigned as Liberal leader and Prime Minister in December 2003.

While current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insists he plans to run again in the next general election, which by then will mark his tenth year in office, many have speculated whether Trudeau will step down instead and hand over the reins to someone new.

He added: "It’s up to him to decide... what’s best for him, what’s best for the party, and what’s best for the country." "It’s a very personal decision."

But when asked how difficult it is to make that decision, Chrétien said, "It's easy," adding, "You have to make the right decision, the decision is the decision."

He added there will be plenty of stakeholders who will try to influence Trudeau's choice, but that is the "name of the game" in politics, "and you have to live with it."

With Chrétien in a unique position to know when it’s time to leave political life, Kapelos asked what he would say if Trudeau asked for his advice.

Chrétien said, "He wouldn't ask me," "so why discuss it?"

Chrétien mentioned three key decisions he believes were the most important during his time as Prime Minister.

He said the first was balancing the books and pulling the country out of a $42 billion deficit before presenting five consecutive balanced budgets.

Secondly, as he said, was passing the Clarity Act, which set the rules for referendums, following the 1995 Quebec referendum, "Many people said: don’t do this, you’re ready to start a storm, and there was no storm."

He added: "And then when I said no to the war in Iraq," "You know, that was a very important decision to show that we are not the 51st state of America, but an independent country."

On the occasion of Chrétien's birthday this week, former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent a video congratulating him, and Chrétien said: "He even sang to me." "You know, people think we are enemies. No, we are rivals, not enemies."

He said that during the decades he spent in politics, he learned it is like playing hockey: whatever happens on the ice, "afterwards we go together and have a beer," adding this is life."

Chrétien explained that working with Members of Parliament is essential to discuss ideas even when there are disagreements.

He joked: "Actually, in many ways, it’s easier to be friendly with the people in front of you, so they don’t try to replace you from behind."

Chrétien also confirmed that there is the benefit of hindsight, and looking back, it’s easier to see where the friendships were, and that everyone there works towards what is best for the country.

When asked about the concept of politics today, and the idea it resonates with people’s anger and frustrations, Chrétien said not much has changed on that front since he took office; there will always be reasons for people's dissatisfaction, pointing to interest rates and national debt when he became Prime Minister, but also highlighting that Canada now has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, despite the cost of living crisis.

He said: "We are doing well in Canada compared to any other country." "And what I was saying is that when I look at myself, I feel despair, but when I compare myself, I feel very good."

Chrétien added that things often seem worse than they really are because bad news draws attention.

He said: "As I said, a dog biting a man is not news, but if a man wanted to bite a dog, that would be big news, as two animals are doing the same thing."

He continued: "We have to be realistic and look at life and do what we can." "For me, I always did my best, and I couldn’t do better than my best."

"Maybe my best wasn’t good enough for some, but there’s nothing I can do about that."