As leaders of the world's richest democracies meet in a remote Rocky Mountain village in Canada, their host, Jean Chretien, is unlikely to get much in the limelight, even though he is chairing the summit.
The annual Group of Eight summit leaders have enough on their plate as it is - the Bush plan on the Middle East and economic growth, besides African development which Chretien himself pushed high on the agenda.
If anything, the summit gives Chretien the chance to move away from the searing political heat characterising so many sittings in the House in Ottowa over the past few weeks - considered by many as making up one of the most turbulent periods in Canada's recent political history.
Up to now, Chretien himself and his supporters in the house have managed to brush off the relentless opposition attacks quite easily, though not convincingly.
For, despite the string of scandals rocking the Liberals, the trouble for Chretien is not really coming from the direction of the opposition benches. Even mild-mannered John Manley, his deputy, can handle the haranguing and finger-pointing from that side, fragmented and wobbly as it finds itself today.
The trouble was, is and will remain, at least until February, Chretien himself or, rather, the way he has been 'operating', plunging his government into turmoil.
First he gives those eyeing the leadership the go-ahead to campaign for the post, then in an incredible about-turn he decides that enough is enough and puts a stop to the race.
That was the start, at least officially, of what rapidly led to a chain of events that made Chretien fire his own star minister - Paul Martin. It was not clear whether or not he actually fired him, or whether he left on his own accord. But that is no longer important today.
What matters now is that Martin, the man credited with having turned Canada's deficit into a surplus, is now free to practically do what he wants. Not that he needs to campaign hard either. Martin is seen as the natural successor to Chretien and an obvious winner at the leadership review in February.
So why did Chretien go to the extent of firing Martin when he knew he is so popular, so successful? After all, they had worked well together for quite some time.
Why does he choose to remain at the helm when he knows, must know, that the people feel his time is up?
Chretien, now 68, makes it a point of taking up the flight of steps to the house in one run, pretty much the same as Mr Mintoff used to do at Castille, remember? Chretien is somewhat faster though and takes two steps at a time! Still, however fit he may feel physically, it will take a miracle for him to win the support he needs to remain at the post in eight months' time.
True, as in soccer, anything can happen in politics, but time is running out for Chretien. Or is it? Not according to one correspondent from Niagara Falls writing in the Toronto Star.
Standing alone from among the crowd who lashed out at Chretien for dumping Martin, he thought the whole matter was a ruse, to alienate the opposition, to give them plenty of fodder for the house question period.
And, he said, they (the opposition) had taken the bait. As if they needed extra fodder to try to attack and lampoon government members! It does seem that democratic parliaments are the same everywhere.
The first problem for Chretien now is whether or not John Manley will be able to pick up from where Martin left off, considering Martin's stature in his field. He takes on the additional portfolio of finance minister when he is deputy prime minister and is responsible for the government's security agenda and the corporations.
How can he possibly cope with all these responsibilities? Chretien made light of the question when it was put to him in parliament. But he knows that in no time the question is bound to weigh heavily on him, as on Manley, as he steers a new life after Paul Martin.