Shawinigan Handshake
Encyclopedia
Shawinigan Handshake is the epithet
given to a chokehold
executed on February 15, 1996 by Jean Chrétien
, then Prime Minister of Canada
, on anti-poverty protester Bill Clennett. The phrase is a combination of Chrétien's birthplace (Shawinigan, Quebec
) and the name usually given to the greeting ritual of shaking hands
.
, Quebec to commemorate the first National Flag of Canada Day
. As Chrétien addressed the assembled crowd, anti-poverty activists heckled the Prime Minister over proposed changes to Canada's unemployment insurance program, and, as he made his way to his limousine
at the cessation of the ceremonies, Chrétien was confronted by Clennett. At that moment, Chrétien grabbed Clennett by the back of the neck and chin, forcing Clenett to the ground and breaking one of his teeth. Another protester that then blocked Chrétien's passage had his megaphone
knocked away by the Prime Minister, and was promptly pushed to the ground by Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) officers.
Chrétien later defended these actions, stating: "some people came my way... and I had to go, so if you're in my way..." He also blamed the RCMP for allowing Clennett to obtain such close proximity to the Prime Minister, though the RCMP said they saw no breach of security. Chrétien also demonstrated a casual attitude towards the affair, later joking that he had used the Shawinigan Handshake because he mistook Clennett for John Nunziata
, whom Chrétien had dismissed from the Liberal caucus
for voting against the 1996 budget.
Reform Party
Member of Parliament
Deborah Grey
subsequently nicknamed Chrétien "The Shawinigan Strangler". This sobriquet was later used by other opposition MPs as well; in a member's statement on February 12, 1997, Chuck Strahl
sarcastically nominated Chrétien for a "Parliamentary Oscar" for his "performance" in The Shawinigan Strangler.
While Clennett did not press charges against the Prime Minister, another person, Kenneth Russell, did accuse Chrétien of assault on March 28, and the Prime Minister was formally charged by a judge in the Quebec Superior Court
. These charges, however, were rejected by the Attorney General of Quebec.
After Chretien's brain surgery to remove a hematoma on August 6, 2010, he joked with an orderly who was shaving him that if he did a poor job, Chretien would "give [him] the Shawinigan Handshake."
The only known photo of the incident was taken from a video clip shot by television cameraman Phil Nolan. Nolan won the POY (Photo of the Year) award for that photo.
candidate in Hull
in Quebec's 2007
and 2008 provincial elections. Bill Clennett and his team ranked third in 2008 after the Liberal Party of Quebec and the Parti Quebecois, beating the Action Democratique du Quebec, the Quebec Green Party, and the Independence Party.
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
given to a chokehold
Chokehold
A chokehold or choke is a general term for grappling hold that critically reduces or prevents either air or blood from passing through the neck of an opponent. The restriction may be of one or both and depends on the hold used and the reaction of the victim...
executed on February 15, 1996 by Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, then Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, on anti-poverty protester Bill Clennett. The phrase is a combination of Chrétien's birthplace (Shawinigan, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) and the name usually given to the greeting ritual of shaking hands
Handshake
A handshake is a short ritual in which two people grasp one of each other's like hands, in most cases accompanied by a brief up and down movement of the grasped hands.-History:...
.
The incident
On the day of the incident, Chrétien was in HullHull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
, Quebec to commemorate the first National Flag of Canada Day
National Flag of Canada Day
Flag Day, officially named National Flag of Canada Day, is observed annually on February 15, commemorating the inauguration of the Flag of Canada on that date in 1965. The day is marked by flying the flag, occasional public ceremonies, and educational programs in schools...
. As Chrétien addressed the assembled crowd, anti-poverty activists heckled the Prime Minister over proposed changes to Canada's unemployment insurance program, and, as he made his way to his limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
at the cessation of the ceremonies, Chrétien was confronted by Clennett. At that moment, Chrétien grabbed Clennett by the back of the neck and chin, forcing Clenett to the ground and breaking one of his teeth. Another protester that then blocked Chrétien's passage had his megaphone
Megaphone
A megaphone, speaking-trumpet, bullhorn, blowhorn, or loud hailer is a portable, usually hand-held, cone-shaped horn used to amplify a person’s voice or other sounds towards a targeted direction. This is accomplished by channelling the sound through the megaphone, which also serves to match the...
knocked away by the Prime Minister, and was promptly pushed to the ground by Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) officers.
Chrétien later defended these actions, stating: "some people came my way... and I had to go, so if you're in my way..." He also blamed the RCMP for allowing Clennett to obtain such close proximity to the Prime Minister, though the RCMP said they saw no breach of security. Chrétien also demonstrated a casual attitude towards the affair, later joking that he had used the Shawinigan Handshake because he mistook Clennett for John Nunziata
John Nunziata
John Nunziata is a Canadian politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 2000, initially as a Liberal and later as an independent member.-Background:...
, whom Chrétien had dismissed from the Liberal caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
for voting against the 1996 budget.
Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Deborah Grey
Deborah Grey
Deborah Cleland Grey, OC, sometimes called Deb Grey is a former Canadian Member of Parliament from Alberta for the Reform Party of Canada, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party of Canada....
subsequently nicknamed Chrétien "The Shawinigan Strangler". This sobriquet was later used by other opposition MPs as well; in a member's statement on February 12, 1997, Chuck Strahl
Chuck Strahl
Charles Strahl, PC, MP was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament in the governing Conservative Party of Canada.-Before politics:...
sarcastically nominated Chrétien for a "Parliamentary Oscar" for his "performance" in The Shawinigan Strangler.
While Clennett did not press charges against the Prime Minister, another person, Kenneth Russell, did accuse Chrétien of assault on March 28, and the Prime Minister was formally charged by a judge in the Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
. These charges, however, were rejected by the Attorney General of Quebec.
After Chretien's brain surgery to remove a hematoma on August 6, 2010, he joked with an orderly who was shaving him that if he did a poor job, Chretien would "give [him] the Shawinigan Handshake."
The only known photo of the incident was taken from a video clip shot by television cameraman Phil Nolan. Nolan won the POY (Photo of the Year) award for that photo.
Bill Clennett
Bill Clennett has since run for provincial office, standing as a Québec solidaireQuébec Solidaire
Québec solidaire is a democratic socialist and sovereigntist political party in Quebec, Canada, that was created on 4 February 2006 in Montreal. It was formed by the merger of the left-wing party Union des forces progressistes and the alter-globalization political movement Option Citoyenne, led...
candidate in Hull
Hull (provincial electoral district)
Hull is provincial electoral riding located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Outaouais region, the district includes the entire Hull sector of the city of Gatineau. It was created in 1919 and was previously part of the riding of Ottawa from 1887 to 1919 and Ottawa from 1867 to 1887...
in Quebec's 2007
Quebec general election, 2007
The Quebec general election of 2007 was held in the Canadian province of Quebec on March 26, 2007 to elect members of the 38th National Assembly of Quebec. The Quebec Liberal Party led by Jean Charest managed to win a plurality of seats, but were reduced to a minority government, Quebec's first in...
and 2008 provincial elections. Bill Clennett and his team ranked third in 2008 after the Liberal Party of Quebec and the Parti Quebecois, beating the Action Democratique du Quebec, the Quebec Green Party, and the Independence Party.