Shawinigan Handshake

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The name comes from Chrétien's town of birth Shawinigan, Quebec. Reform MP Deborah Grey called Chrétien the "Shawinigan Strangler".

Chrétien later joked that he used the Shawinigan Handshake because he mistook Clennett for John Nunziata, whom Chrétien had expelled from the Liberal caucus for voting against the 1996 budget.

Clennett chose not to press charges against the Prime Minister, although on March 28, Kenneth Russell invoked an article of the Criminal Code of Canada, whereby a private citizen could bring forth an accusation. Russell accused Chrétien of assault, and on May 6 a judge from the Quebec court formally charged Chrétien. These charges were dismissed by the Quebec Attorney General.

Clennett was a candidate for Québec Solidaire in the provincial riding of Hull in the Quebec general election, 2007, and again in the by-election of May 2008. He finished in fifth place in 2007, but third in 2008.

External links

* [http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/federal_politics/clips/12796/ CBC archives]
* [http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/05/17/politics.fights/ CNN - Prescott not the first to pack a punch]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/quebecvotes2007/story/2007/02/23/clennett.html Activist grabbed by Chrétien runs for office]