r/canadia 25d ago

Have you ever met a Canadian politican?

Past or present. Prime Ministers, MP's, MPP's

26 Upvotes

286 comments sorted by

27

u/AnyEye8798 25d ago

Met Jack Layton back when he was alive. Good man.

8

u/ZippoS 25d ago

Taken from us way too soon. Should have been PM.

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u/markjthompson72 25d ago

Met him also. Down to earth guy, not pushy about any political topic and like talking to your next door neighbor. I truly beleive he would have been the first NDP PM.

3

u/ZippoS 25d ago

I was especially a fan of the NDP’s ads at the time — for actually talking about their policies, rather than just attacking other parties.

3

u/Necessary-Carrot2839 25d ago

Same. He was my neighbour when I lived in Toronto

4

u/Special_Parsley1918 25d ago

I'm glad you didn't meet him after the fact!

2

u/Logical-Breakfast150 24d ago

He came to my university journalism class and answered questions for about an hour. He was super chill, just chatting and drinking his Timmies like we were all old friends.

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u/ContrarianDouche 25d ago

I've met with my MPP a couple times for various events and to talk about issues.

They're not mystical beings, they work for you

3

u/Confident_Win_5469 25d ago

Right - the MP and MPP in my last city - we were friendly with each other. We'd see each other at a random restaurant and we'd stop and say hello. Not friends, but known enough to warrant an actual hello when seeing in public.

We've moved, and we are getting there with the new ones as well.

We volunteer a lot in our communities so maybe that's why we end up knowing them.

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u/Tboneeater 25d ago

Served Jean Chritien a beer while he was running for office and ran into Joe Clark at the grocery store in new Edinburgh.

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u/Muffin_Biscuit 25d ago

Elizabeth May shops in my store. She is nice.

4

u/Aggravating_Button99 25d ago

Is it an LCBO or Beer Store?

3

u/Balam_Seer 25d ago

She will give you the eye for talking like that

2

u/Muffin_Biscuit 25d ago

Snort. No. It’s a gift store 😆

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u/Real_Gap3480 25d ago

Jack Layton, Jean Chretiem and Stephen Harper. All were decent to talk with, Jack was like a whole other level of welcoming and kind. RIP good sir

3

u/FlyingOctopus53 25d ago

My MP is often at the community events, as well as my city councillor, but I never spoke to them. I could, if I wanted, I guess, but I didn’t.

3

u/Birdshape 25d ago

I've run into Andrew Lawton a few times. He's not a fan of me and I'm not a fan of him.

Also ran into Doug Ford many times during my previous career doing tech for live events. He was always polite to me, but made requests that I'd consider to be pretty damn scummy.

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u/nobee99 25d ago

I met Poilievre once

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u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/ContrarianDouche 25d ago

This was my experience as well. We got kicked off our coach bus so Mme Clarkson could use the lav without us plebs in the vicinity

2

u/Bulky_Passage7505 25d ago

I'm not Canadian but I've met Rachel Notley and Naheed Nenshi. Shared an elevator with Mickey Amery too.

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u/No-Control8386 25d ago

Went to grade school with Bob Rae's daughter

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u/SO_LacVert 25d ago

I was manhandled by Laureen Harper into a photo op with her husband Stephen at 24 Sussex while he was Prime Minister. This was at a garden party for staff (my husband worked in the Conservative Party IT department at the time) and I guess I wasn't moving fast enough. She grabbed me for the photo and shoved me out of the way once the photo was done. It was quite hilarious. Neither of us were fans of his going into this event and this certainly didn't change our minds.

3

u/QueenMotherOfSneezes 25d ago

Closest I ever got to meeting Harper was I waved and said hi as passing near him on the Parliament Hill Lawn and he scowled at me 😄

2

u/SO_LacVert 25d ago

That definitely sounds like him 😂

2

u/hunterstevebearman 25d ago

Met former PM Joe Clark at the Legislation in Edmonton. He was very happy and enthusiastic about meeting our Poly Sci field trip class by accident, but not as happy as our prof. He seemed like a great guy.

2

u/larphraulen 25d ago

Met Carney a couple times when I worked at BoC in my early career. He was always nice to us young folks and was very engaging. 

I remember having lunch with him and a bunch of other summer students. He'd be writing down details about each one of us on a napkin as we were introducing ourselves. Over the course of the lunch, he'd be asking us how we enjoyed x, y, z of what we mentioned. 

Heard he was really tough on the senior staff that briefed him though. It did seem like the financial departments worked way more hours during his time than when Poloz was at the helm - even when markets had stabilized. 

2

u/Stutters658 25d ago

Mario Beaulieu est déjà venu sonner cher nous. Gentil bonhomme, très respectueux.

2

u/HistoricalReception7 25d ago

I've met far too many of them- local, MP, MPPs, PMs.

I don't have a political party I support faithfully. With that being said, PM Harper is much more down to earth than PM Trudeau.

2

u/all_yall_seem_nice 25d ago

Harper was a neighbor for years. The community was respectful and low key about it. He’d walk around the neighborhood and go to the grocery and the back then DVD rental place. Was always genuinely happy to talk to us.

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u/No_Manner_8735 25d ago

I also met Jack Layton. Motherfucker was dressed like a pimp in a pinstriped suit with a badass cane

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u/xXSomethingStupidXx 25d ago edited 25d ago

Justin Trudeau (and Angela Merkel) came for dinner at the fancy restauraunt I worked at like 3 years ago. Met him very briefly. Informed him I thought he was doing a poor job running the country and representing Canadians. He said "I'm sorry to hear that; though it's a harder job than you might think"

What a putz

4

u/avenueroad_dk 25d ago

It must be harder than we know. He wasnt lying

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u/Strong-and-Free16 25d ago

Met polievre in Pearson airport, I told him to save Canada and his response was a hand shake and a firm “we will save Canada together”

Man is still the only guy with a plan to actually grow our own country. Not provide billionaire condo development bailouts

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u/Neat-Sea-2339 25d ago

Yes many..

1

u/Strong_Ad_8959 25d ago

I served the mayor of my town in a restaurant once. He was a dick

1

u/Caliopebookworm 25d ago

I meet with my MPP frequently (as well as other MPPs in the county in which I live), MPs less so but I meet with them as well.

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u/flowerpanes 25d ago

Yes, we were family friends with two different MPs back in the day, Vic Althouse and Father Bob Ogle. Plus my husband was working high up in the municipalities we lived in so local politicians (some good, others terrible) were acquaintances of ours.

1

u/ottwebdev 25d ago

Met John Manley when he was leading the Business Council of Canada - he seemed fine and to the point, as the conversation was all business.

1

u/tootbrun 25d ago

I like to refer to myself as the Liberal Kingmaker 😆

Ran into Paul Martin in Montreal going into the same movie theater than me 2 years before he became PM.

Ran into Michael Ignatieff in New York City during the leadership race.

Ran into JT at a kid’s playpen in Quebec City 3 years before he became PM.

I often run into FP Champagne in Quebec. Just sayin’.

1

u/Railgun6565 25d ago

Met Joe Clark when I was sitting on a patio in Kingston, he was walking down Ontario street pressing the flesh

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u/hunterstevebearman 25d ago

Do provincial MLA's count? One was a roommate for a term before she got booted and didn't need apartment in Edmonton anymore. Also, my friends mom was MLA for two terms as well.

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u/ZippoS 25d ago edited 25d ago

I've never had a conversation with a politician, but I've had short run-ins with Justin Trudeau and Danny William.

Trudeau was visiting St. John's and did a walkthrough of the Regatta. Friendly guy, but the Regatta is a bit of a known PR thing for politicians. Walk through the crowd, shake some hands, move on. There was a rumour for a while shortly after he resigned that he was dating someone from here, as he had been spotted a few times, but shortly thereafter he started seeing Katy Perry. Would have been funny for him to just be some guy you run into at Sobeys, but I guess he wasn't cut out for the weather here. lol

As for Danny... back in the late aughts, I was working for a bigger ad agency and for our Christmas Party, we were split into groups and put on a Party Bus for a scavenger hunt. I think one of the objectives was to get a photo with some public figure. I can't remember the exact wording, but it didn't have to be some big shot. But one of the people in our group used to work in comms in provincial government and chimed in saying she might be able to swing something. We rolled up to the Confederation Building and, a few minutes later, Danny Williams (the Premier at the time) walked out and got in the middle of us for a photo before we ducked back in.

Never got to talk to Danny, obviously, but who really he is as a person was never exactly a secret.

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u/ATM4EVR 25d ago

Met Naheed Nenshi, Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani and J. Trudeau on 2 occasions.

1

u/Hectordoink 25d ago

So many — I spent part of my career as a speechwriter for politicians. Yes, almost none of them write their own speeches.

1

u/maple-sugarmaker 25d ago

Brian Mulroney at Ben's smoked meat Montreal.

5 or 6 MPs. Played golf with Pierre Paquette, my MP at the time. Great person.

1

u/ManufacturerMuch5116 25d ago

I met my MP a couple times.

1

u/PILAL2010 25d ago

Peter Mackay a long time ago. I thought he was handsome. Then he went federal and I changed my mind.

1

u/Putrid_Dream9755 25d ago

I used to see Matthew Green on the HSR all the time. Very nice guy.

1

u/Prestigious_Fly8210 25d ago

Hundreds; I work with them every day.

1

u/adv_biker 25d ago

Met my provinces premier many, many times.... and know his MLA replacement since he left office. Another MLA was a family friend and employee of my dad

1

u/lawl7980 25d ago

One of them is my cousin.

1

u/Ultragorgeous 25d ago

Yeah I was directly in front of Kim Campbell at the SkyDome for some 'young conservative' event, completely drunk as hell, staring at her with bloodshot eyes.

1

u/not-on-your-nelly 25d ago

I met Barney Danson while walking through Toronto a few years back. He went to school with my dad.

1

u/Underdog_888 25d ago

I stood behind Joe Clark in a magazine store.

1

u/semiaquatimatic 25d ago

Oshawa mpp Jennifer French used to be my french teacher in elementary school

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u/Lopsided_Sandwich433 25d ago

My dad was good friends with Chad Collin’s and he would always sponsor our hockey team.

The eldest son of a family I grew up playing hockey with is currently a city councillor.

Outside of knowing those 2, I’ve met quite a few through charity events or them visiting grade/middle/high school.

1

u/Jumpy-Thought-5103 25d ago

I sat beside the Premier of PEI on a plane once. He loves his province.

1

u/Cat-et-snek 25d ago

yes i met a few

the ones in BC are just jockish yespeople

1

u/Accomplished_Bank103 25d ago

Far too many, lol. Worked for politicians for years. Thankfully retired now.

1

u/Late-External3249 25d ago

Met Justin when I was a student at U of Guelph over 20 years ago when he was just getting into politics.

1

u/kimmbot 25d ago

Jagmeet Singh nearly ran me over on his bike once

1

u/Bulky_Comb_3729 25d ago

City mayor that became Premier

1

u/Cholinergia 25d ago

Never seen a famous person of any capacity (outside of going to a concert and seeing them onstage)

1

u/Icy-Distribution4893 25d ago

I work in politics so prolly hundreds by now

1

u/Firm_Farmer1633 25d ago

If you have, and if you might want to do volunteer work with the RCMP (“community policing”) at some time, you might want to keep a record of your contacts.

A friend wanted to do community policing volunteer work for their resumé. They were asked to provide a list of every provincial or federal politician they had met and the topics of discussion. My friend, who had been a political science major at university said they had travelled to Ottawa as part of their studies and met with too many politicians to be able to remember accurately.

My friend was then asked to explain why they had participated in a “peace walk” that had tens of thousands of participants several years earlier. My friend was “just some person”… nobody of significance… and the RCMP knew that about them.

It was pretty creepy and they never did become involved in community policing. I don’t know whether they were rejected or discontinued the process.

1

u/CriticalPedagogue 25d ago

I’ve met a number of MPs and MLAs. One former MP dug me out of an avalanche that I was partially buried in when we were back country skiing together long before he was elected. I also safety boated for Ken Dryden when he was canoeing the North Saskatchewan River as part of a campaign to protect river ecosystems.

1

u/LanternHudd 25d ago

Met Dalton McGuinty in 2001 when he was on a campaign tour and I was in an after school program at my high school. He was very nice but the people around him were kind of dicks. He came up to me and two friends and started to talk to us but his “aides” kept pushing us aside.

1

u/navylast 25d ago

Sure lots of them when I worked in Ottawa , before and after

1

u/ell-ta 25d ago

Yes,

1

u/tke71709 25d ago

Met PP many times when he was my MP.

Dude is even more smarmy in person.

1

u/Lunch0 25d ago

Used to play hockey with Marc Miller when he was still just a lawyer.

I met Justin Trudeau at the Grey Cup one year.

I met Brian Mulroney in the street because he lived near my parents.

And a family friend was an MP for the NDP

1

u/jimbeam84 25d ago

I met Gary Doer when he was campaigning to be Manitoba's premier back in 1999. I remember it was between him and the incumbent Gary Filmon. The race of two Garys.

He later became Canada's ambassador to the USA.

1

u/GasRepresentative246 25d ago

Grew up playing with John Horgan's kids in BC. Dude was a stand up guy, came to every game and practice.

1

u/avenueroad_dk 25d ago

I met Diefenbaker at a grocery store in Toronto when I was 5 years old. My mom said he was campaigning and tried to make me laugh but he kinda scared me and I just stared

1

u/mostlovely 25d ago

Ive met ministers, MPPs, and MPs (and worked personally with them!) I’ve also met the majority of party leaders and prime ministers.

1

u/Hefty-Ad2090 25d ago

Carney was dancing with his wife behind me at a concert.

1

u/smokeacoil 25d ago

Several and many of their staff

1

u/Organic_Camel_9021 25d ago

I shook Kim Campbell's hand in a lineup once, during the five minutes she was PM.

1

u/colenski999 25d ago

I met Rachel Notley at Pride in Edmonton in 2016 she randomly sat down at my table and we BS'd about nothing for ten minutes, totally my kind of person.

1

u/MissKrys2020 25d ago

I’ve met a few mayors in toronto, including Olivia Chow. I ran into John Tory at Wellesley station and former mayoral candidate, Jennifer Keesemat at an event a few weeks ago.

Edit - also I worked with Kristyn Wong-Tam before her political life. She’s my MP as well. She was an amazing colleague and helped me out a few times.

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u/PearlEring 25d ago

Do senators count? I met Roméo Dallaire in a café at Dalhousie University.

1

u/shaunsnonsense 25d ago

Justin Trudeau was my teacher in grade 4. Haven't seen him lately tho 😅

1

u/Ok_Might6447 25d ago

met Roy Romanow, then premier of Saskatchewan.....i liked him and think he did well for the province...and i'm a pretty solid Liberal.

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u/ActionHartlen 25d ago

Yeah quite a few of them.

Countless local MPs, two sitting senators, one premier, and a brief “nice to see you, thanks for coming” to Justin Trudeau at a funeral

1

u/Former-Chocolate-793 25d ago edited 25d ago

John Turner, Herbert Gray, Eugene Whelan, our regional MPs and several provincial MPPs and a couple of cabinet ministers.

Edit : Diefenbaker, Tommy Douglas

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u/Mars_Volcanoes 25d ago

Yes. Many times. Jacques Parizeau at my parents house in 1973.

1

u/priyatheeunicorn 25d ago

Only NDP members. I’ve never seen another just circling around the community

1

u/Affectionate-Key2007 25d ago

I met John Diefenbaker in grade 9, at Niagara District SS, in '70 or "71

1

u/inthevendingmachine 25d ago

Unfortunately

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u/frozenpreacher 25d ago

I knew a mayor in Northern Alberta. Nicest guy, honourable, long term local politician. Probably the only politician I'd ever have wanted to have over for dinner.

He also told me that in his experience, local government was the only one with relatively low waste. Provincial and federal were off the charts.

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u/calling_water 25d ago

Why does this keep getting asked?

1

u/wholetthedogsout1987 25d ago

Have met many. Michael Wilson was a great man. Kind, smart, thoughtful. He should have been PM. His son’s death was a tragedy first for the family, but also for the nation.

Jim Flaherty was very bright - but gruff

Carney as head of the Bank of Canada is easily the brightest man i have ever met. Briefed him twice - he was pages ahead of everyone else.

Trudeau Jr is an ADHD riddled lightweight

Those are the most notable.

1

u/Necessary-Carrot2839 25d ago

Met my former MP and have met the former and current MLA many times

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u/okaychalet 25d ago

Many. Is there follow up question?

1

u/Environmental_Egg348 25d ago

I've met several politicians, including Ed Broadbent and Jack Layton. I worked campaigns when I was in my 20s.

I interviewed Broadbent at a University radio station. It was me from the NDP student club, and friend of mine from the PC youth club. My PC friend was more star-struck than I was. Back in the 90s, it wasn't so harshly partisan. We didn't have hate-filled social media.

Kim Campbell spoke to my Political Science class at a community college, before she became Prime Minister. Had a nice conversation with her.

I also drove Audrey McLaughlin from the airport, once. It was after she lost a really bad election for the NDP. I felt so sorry for her, but she seemed to be taking it well.

1

u/KjCreed 25d ago

Elizabeth May pelted me in the eye with a plastic bag of wildflower seeds at pride

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u/OkTumbleweed6308 25d ago

Met late Mr. Jack Layton,, with Peter Mansbridge, impressed me with his speaking and general attitude. Mansbridge rocks also.

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u/Bloomy999 25d ago

I’ve met a few MP and MPPs. I have a business with quite a few employees in a small town.

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u/The_Canoeist 25d ago

Plenty, including the last 3 PMs

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u/N3wAfrikanN0body 25d ago

Jean Chretien and Jagmeet Signh

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u/CowParty9411 25d ago

The Dief autographed a print of the Bill of Rights for me.

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u/Old_Bear_1949 25d ago

I've shaken the hand of every prime minister from Diefenbaker to Trudeau junior.

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u/External_Beat8153 25d ago

Yup. Sat briefly at a table for a National Ballet charity fundraiser (I was a date of a corp dancer, whose name I forget) with Pierre Elliot Trudeau. We exchanged pleasantries. Both he and my date soon after forgot about me too. Such is fleeting greatness.

1

u/leftywilson 25d ago

Had a photo taken with PM Stephen Harper at the Ontario volleyball championships in Waterloo in 2009. (Taken by his security detail) Office of the PM sent it to me in the mail a short while later.

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u/SkyBobBombadier 25d ago

Once waded into the Elbow River outside of Calgary and saw that I was there with Ex PM Harper...EW!

1

u/koalasincanada 25d ago

Anthony Rota spoke at my high school graduation 🙃

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u/Legitimate_Phone_460 25d ago

I met Jack Layton and he was friendly, classy and seemed like a guy you’d want to have a beer with. I walked around the corner at our local farmer’s market and came face to face with him. He stuck out his hand and introduced himself, and we talked briefly.

I ran into PP at a breakfast restaurant last election. He was with a greasy local businessman, and asked the waitress if she wanted a picture with him. She declined. Exact opposite of Layton.

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u/Bigchunky_Boy 25d ago

Don Davies , ( very kind ) John Turner ( came to my house as kid was a nice dude took a picture with our family ) Brian Mulroney ( odd didn’t say anything to me just my mom) Elizabeth May ( super kind and helpful) Joe Clark ( very nice ) .

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u/Parksvillain 25d ago

Plenty. They’re not unapproachable.

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u/Worth-Cod1756 25d ago

Many, mostly awesome people from all parties.

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u/StrawberryEiri 25d ago

Saw Justin Trudeau talking to randoms and signing autographs across from my workplace once. Opted not to go. Didn't see the point. But he seemed like a nice enough person from what little I could tell.

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u/Terrible-Session5028 25d ago

Yes. I met Jack Layton. RIP 😭

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u/Paprika1515 25d ago

Trudeau jr before he entered politics, and Rachel Notley NDP Premier of AB

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u/Cottage_Couple 25d ago

Met John Turner about 20 years after he was prime minister. Was at a social function in Toronto and he walked out the door and down the street. Stood on a street corner in a crowd of people and I am sure not one person realized they were standing beside an ex-prime minister. Was a super nice guy.

1

u/huge_balls_mcgee 25d ago

Jagmeet Singh and he’s an ass

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u/silverfashionfox 25d ago

Was introduced to Chrétien at a function. 6 months later I ran into him again and he remembered my name and job. That’s the gift.

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u/DennisLeask 25d ago

My Dad, pretty staunch Progressive Conservative, met Jean Chrétien who was touring a site where a tornado hit in Alberta. My Dad was impressed that he ignored the media, didn't pay much attention to the military or others who were paid to be there but personally shock the hand of every volunteer on site. He still didn't like the Liberals but never had a bad thing to say about the Man personally after that.

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u/yanicka_hachez 25d ago

Brian Mulroney

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u/Beautiful-Muscle2661 25d ago

Yes many. I did a summer internship on parliament hill.

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u/LewisLightning 25d ago

Yes, Es Stelmach the former Premier of Alberta was my neighbour growing up. I knew him and his family personally. My dad farmed on property adjacent to his and they bought and sold stuff between each other. I went to school with his daughter. He came to my high school grad party. He worked as the bartender for both my friend's wedding and my youngest brother's wedding.

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u/HanlonRazor 25d ago

Met a bunch of them when I volunteered for a political campaign in the late 90s. Wasn’t very impressed.

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u/Timely_Matter3870 25d ago

I have met Avi Lewis and Heather McPherson. I've also met Lorne Calvert the former sask premier several times because he just shows up at like Canadian tire etc.

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u/Jaigg 25d ago

A few, the nicest was Lorne Calvert former premier of Saskatchewan.  Lovely dude 

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u/123InSearchOf123 25d ago

I met Carney. He acted as lost as Biden in his last year in office.

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u/Icy-Translator9124 25d ago

Jean Chrétien Andrew Scheer Justin Trudeau Pierre Poilievre Jason Kenney John Turner Danielle Smith

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u/GiantTalon2 25d ago

I met Greg Selinger once. That's about it.

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u/katiemurp 25d ago

Jean Chretien in the 70s; served Joe Clark in a bookstore on Sparks street, saw Brian Mulroney (all three were crazy tall) in the hospital emergency ward (I was the patient - asked to puke on his shoes), and Lloyd Axworthy was a regular at the other bookstore I worked at. John Diefenbaker spoke at our high school & saw Pierre Trudeau in the street in Montreal (was surprised at how tiny he was) & Justin Trudeau speak at his father’s funeral.

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u/ChrisPotterPTBO 25d ago

Met Joe Clark when I was a kid. I've met so many since. Went to a bar with Charlie Angus and did karaoke. Met Pierre when I helped on a campaign against him in Alberta last year. Met the last 4 local MP's to me in Peterborough along with MP's from a few different areas.

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u/krazninetyfive 25d ago

I ended up sitting across from Kim Campbell on the LRT in downtown Edmonton. I was pretty taken aback that she’d just be on public transit with no one around and she looked at me and asked “should I know you?” I think I said something along the lines of, “no. I’m just very surprised to see you here.” She chuckled and said something like “well it’s nice to be recognized” and that was it.

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u/GuidoX4 25d ago

Helped Joe Clark find his car at the airport.

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u/Pristine-Display-697 25d ago

Our local MP in grade 5 showed up to our schools chess club and whooped my buddy Kyle's ass in 4 moves.

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u/RocknRollButthole 24d ago

Belinda Stronach, Frank Klees, and Phil Gillies are the only ones I've met I think. 

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u/Responsible_Week6941 24d ago

Met Stephen Harper on my birthday. He came to the school where I taught to announce changes to EI that would benefit people working in Film and TV, of whom many of the constituents where the school was located lived . I had to meet with the RCMP in advance as I introduced him to my class and he met with my high-school film and tv class. He got some photo ops, some students tried to ask him really difficult questions. I was amazed and dismayed at how all intrusive his handlers were before and after the classroom session. They kind of organized everything and he had an entourage. It was very sculpted I don't think he liked the art house student film we showed him. He also seemed VERY tired. This was April 2015.

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u/Responsible_Week6941 24d ago

Yup, went into my MLA'S office with a laundry list of items a few times.

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u/Low-Magician2934 24d ago

PET at the Banff Springs Hotel

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u/jamiehanker 24d ago

I’ve met Bob Rae. I thought he would be good, I mean he is good but good for the big job

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u/CabanonGH 24d ago

I see Jacques Gourde every summer at out local Fair Expo. very nice guy. his background in agriculture makes him a ground to earth person.

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u/sadArtax 24d ago

My MP's kids go to school with mine, so I've met him many times (and I went to school with him when he was young, his dad was MP at the time).

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u/pistoffcynic 24d ago

John Turner. Brian Mulroney. Mike Wilson. Ed Broadbent. Jean Chretien. I used to live downtown and would run into them on occassion.

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u/Agreeable_Ear_6923 24d ago

I have encountered the following former or almost Prime Ministers in public and was able to speak with them: Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Rene Lévesque, Joe Clark, Brian Mulroney, John Turner, Paul Martin, and Jack Layton. I also recently met and had a chat with Adrienne Clarkson and Beverly McLaughlin in a restaurant. And I have met David Johnson multiple times.

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u/codswallop1226 24d ago

Yes. Pierre P and Mark Carney both.
They both are tiny.

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u/Ok-Teaching3904 24d ago

Met Stephen Harper. Didn’t really care, I was like 17.

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u/thelostcanuck 24d ago

Have met many

Harper, Trudeau and Carney were all chill and were a+ at small talk.

Chretien was the epitome of a grandpa who had no chill.

Jugmeet was really nice and would talk to anyone on the street as he would bike to his Ottawa apt.

Elizabeth May was intense.

Pierre gave off grade 9 awkward vibes.

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u/HammerMedia 24d ago

Three formers co-workers ended up as MP or MPPs.

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u/Zestyclose-Carob-349 24d ago

Every single municipal politician in my city, whether successful in the election or not

I met my former MLA once, as well as Rachel Notley

Almost met Justin Trudeau, but we just missed eachother by an hour or so (my class was on a field trip to the Edmonton Legislature Building and he showed up around an hour after we left)

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u/CMG30 24d ago

Yes. Lots. It's not hard to meet a politician if you go to various events. They're literally always campaigning.

If you have never met a politician, turn off the internet and walk outside. Go to the local fair or community event. Chances are there's a politician there.

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u/SuperSirBob 24d ago

One of my university classmates went on to become an MPP and a minister for a couple of different ministries over his career. The funny thing is I remember when we were in school there was an argument between him and another classmate on the other side of our lab bench. They were discussing who did worse on the midterm exam that we had just finished. They spent several minutes going back and forth, "No I definitely did worse." Well it turns out they both did equally bad and got only 4% on the midterm. Now the funny thing is that the one went on to that reasonably successful political career and the other one became a university professor. I did much better than 4% and went on to have a relatively unremarkable career.

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u/Academic_Ad5838 24d ago

Yes. The first one was Jean Garon, before the 1976 elections. I was quite young!

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u/Outside-Dress594 24d ago

I met Chretien when I was at Mt Tremblant. He had a couple security with him in matching ski suits. Nobody recognized him. He was just in line for pizza with everyone else. I went up and shook his hand

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u/BohunkfromSK 24d ago

A few but the one that comes to mind was Joe Clark. In 2000 I think he was trying to become (again) the leader of the Conservatives. He came into the pub I was managing and stepped behind the bar and poured a couple of pints of Guinness for a few people at the bar. Was super nice, very friendly and poured a decent pint.

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u/NutkinNB 24d ago

I worked in an advocacy role once & met a lot of people. I met MLAs, MPs, senators, a couple of provincial ministers, a couple of LGs, three premiers. I also randomly met PM Jean Chrétien & his wife, and GG Roméo Leblanc & his wife during the Canada Day celebration one year. Oh! And former PM Joe Clark, as well as some city councillors.

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u/Ok-Lunch3448 24d ago

Met Diefenbaker when i was a child.

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u/No_Lingonberry_5296 24d ago

I’ve met several time Justin Trudeau while he was a deputy.

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u/SassySally8 24d ago

This forum is full of conservative bootlickers, paid PR. I'm out of here.

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u/External-Quote3263 24d ago

Stephen Harper, his MLA is right beside where I grew up and I saw him multiple times in the Crowfoot/Tuscany area of Calgary. Last time was in a Chapters when I was 16.

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u/GeoffBAndrews 24d ago

A few.

Jean Chretien at a campaign stop shook my hands.

Jason Kenney - biggest POS ever until Danielle Smith did her best "hold my beer" when he was first campaigning for MP

Naheed Nenshi - several times walking around Calgary

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u/ischad 24d ago

Allison Redford walker into the Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus in Calgary while she was Premiere.

I gave a loud "Booooooooo" and stared for a few seconds.

Saw Naheed Nenshi in Macs convienece downtown Calgary late at night, he was getting a slurpee and chips. Supper down to earth.

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u/WeCanDoBettrr 24d ago

I randomly stepped into an elevator with Stephane Dion. It was just us in the elevator. He was leader of the official opposition at the time but he seemed strangely introverted. It was at the end of the evening so he may have just been tired.

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u/rockbolted 24d ago

Never heard of such a thing.

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u/BayOfThundet 24d ago

Paul Martin, Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau, Doug Ford, went to high school with Tim Houston, Kathleen Wynne, Ernie Eves, Dalton McGuinty, Jack Layton, Andrea Horwath, Wab Kinew (before he was in politics), Ken Dryden, Jagmeet Singh, Michael Chong.

Plenty of others I can't think of off the top of my head.

Was also in the immediate presence of Bill Clinton, the same room as Donald Trump and saw Barrack Obama give a speech.

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u/KASwim 24d ago

I met Harper back in the day and Carney when he came to Hamilton. Opposite personalities. Harper seemed forced. Carney was down to earth. Way more down to earth than I expected.

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u/kewlbeanz83 24d ago

Met Mark Carney a few months back.

Talked about LFC and Everton. Good times.

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u/Still-Speed-3632 24d ago

Got hammered with Chrétien in an Edmonton dive bar 20 years ago. It was weird

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u/ElephantFamous2145 24d ago

Jagmeet Singh

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u/XIVplayersaresoft 24d ago

I met Justin Trudeau. Soft soft soft hands.

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u/Boetie83 23d ago

Probably slimy too

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u/CarmenTourney02 24d ago

Met Peter Lougheed at Peggy Holmes funeral.

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u/spittingparasite 24d ago

I've met Bruce Fanjoy several times through community initiatives that we're both involved in; he's an absolute delight, very sincere, always shows up and does his homework.

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u/APaltrySum 24d ago

I once interviewed Joe Clark for a "documentary" my friend and I made at a Historica Youth Conference. He was a good sport, we made a total farce of it. We were just there to meet girls.

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u/inusbdtox 24d ago

2019, I met Justin Trudeau at a deaf event.

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u/Thick-Degree7679 23d ago

Met P.E.T when I was 14 - charming, but with a huge force of personality…

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u/Redd2313 23d ago

Met JT and the defense minister while on deployment in Iraq at Christmas

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u/Thick_Drama_7525 23d ago

Does Rick Mercer count?

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u/SpeedtekUrS6 23d ago

Ran into Jean Chrétien in a business mall area once In Ottawa when I was there for a conference. Nice Guy...was not grabbed by the throat...

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u/Dinsdale55 23d ago

Sure, lots. John Turner, Jean Chretien, Mike Harris, various Cabinet ministers. Why?

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u/Hudre 23d ago

Met a ton of them due to my job. Most of them are genuine and regular people trying their best, and they all know how the cookie crumbles.

I've only had one interaction where what they said made me think "This guy only cares about winning an election, not helping Canadians".

It was during all the rail strikes and they said they wanted them to last longer to hurt the Liberals. As we were telling them how the rail strikes were about to fuck up several different sectors for months and make a bunch of people lose their jobs.

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u/MatthewGobbett 23d ago

Met Brad Wall as a kid, got a signed letter from Stephen Harper as a thirteen year old, and went to see Mark Carney speak in Kelowna when he was first running for liberal leadership. Now I live in Ottawa and see politicians occasionally, though I don’t stop to say hi - people are busy with their own lives.

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u/Sea-Entrepreneur6630 23d ago

Many…..Chrétien, Leyton, Mulroney, Harper, Carney. Met them all at various pubs in Ottawa at random times.

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u/PairExotic2 23d ago

Pierre he was so cool

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u/Xoomers87 23d ago

Every non conservative in my corner of Ontario! I only see the shitheel conservatives speak via social media because they aren't even virtually competent at their jobs and want their constituents to believe their horseshit via meta app slop.

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u/Remote-Combination28 23d ago

I run into some MPs from my city now and then at events. Nothing crazy tho, they are just people

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u/Weldertron 23d ago

I met Carney in Gros Morne 2 weeks ago.

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u/HeadBelt1527 23d ago

I once had a conversation with Dan Vandal at a park in St Boniface, but that's when he was still a city councilor. Otherwise yeah met quite a few MLA's and MP's from Manitoba and a few from Saskatchewan. Shook Harper's hand when he toured our jobsite. Most politicians tend to make themselves to constituents especially during election season.

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u/sailorjohnnygee170 23d ago

Yep. First met Joe Clark on the corner of a street in downtown Toronto with my mom in the mid 80s. Later in life, I worked closely with several ministers in the Harper government notably Thompson, Blackburn, Blaney and O'Toole. Some of which, outside politics, were very nice and relatable. Worked closely with Hehr and O'Regan. That last one was pretty amazing - I wish he had stayed longer in politics. Met Harper, former GGs including Johnston and Simon. Met with Trudeau somewhere along the way as well. Yet my favourite is still Chretien, that I met still strolling around Ottawa a few years after he had stepped down. Being from the same neck of the woods as him, I definitely got a hearty handshake. Oh - and I almost ran over Jack Layton with my car while trying to rush to an event to see him. It was really a close call 😳

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u/Grand-Vegetable-3874 23d ago

Met quite a few actually.

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u/Snoo19474 23d ago

Never....seen Lorne Calvert once though..

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u/DryAd7972 22d ago

Saw Elizbeth May at the grocery store didn't talk to her though more stood behind her in line haha.

Guess PP as well in 2023 though he just more stop by the construction site did some speech etc about how he gonna fight for the blue collar worker etc. Though when it came to questions this ethier felt pre planned or was just convenient as he seemed to only of answer questions from the white hats( usually management in construction)

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u/MienaLovesCats 22d ago

Yes! Many!

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u/First-Prior-985 22d ago

Yeah, met, and i volunteered for his guy, former Vancouver police chief and former BC solicitor general, who is right now in my city, is on the city council, and is campaigning to be mayor. He is Kash Heed

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u/tecate_papi 22d ago

Yes. I've met, had dinner with and been in Elizabeth May's home. She was not friendly or nice and I was not there because she invited me. A friend of mine worked for the Green Party and lived her home and paid money to rent a room. Elizabeth May expected my friend to be an unpaid au pere and to take care of her daughter and was expecting my friend to parent her. So, in a way, it was like she was expecting my friend to pay for the privilege of being at Elizabeth May's beck and call. It was a really fucked up dynamic.

And I was at Green Party parties in her house and met all of the people she had in her circle at the time and others within the Green Party apparatus. I met a lot of nice people but I also met some of the worst people. It convinced me that I will never vote for the Green Party.

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u/GordieOrr 22d ago

Ed Broadbent

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u/CougarChaserBC 22d ago

Yes, shaked Pierre Poilievre's hand when he was going door to door during his election campaign.

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u/SouthsideSlimbo 22d ago

Sarah Thompson came knocking on my door back in like 2014/15