<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mark-carney-is-sworn-in-as-canadas-new-prime-minister-as-country-deals-with-trumps-trade-war/2781e2a3-0e2c-4b53-be95-42f4b44838ac" rel="" target="" title="The Prime Minister of Canada"><span>The Prime Minister of Canada</span></a><span> would be formally charged with assault after a violent altercation with a protester on February 15, 1996.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/canada" rel="" target="" title="Prime Minister Jean Chretien"><span>Prime Minister Jean Chretien</span></a><span> was working his way through a crowd in Hull, Quebec when he was confronted by protester Bill Clennett.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clennett was among those demonstrating against Chretien's changes to Canada's unemployment insurance program.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/today-in-history-february-8-what-happened-on-this-day/8f3f20f8-a98a-4100-9617-b4b8c1bde5c3"><strong><span>Crowd gasps as Julie Andrews takes revenge in acceptance speech</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the confrontation, which lasted mere seconds, Chretien grabbed Clennett by the back of the head and the throat and pushed him to the ground.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fall broke one of Clennett's teeth.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Moments later, Chretien knocked a megaphone from another protester's hand.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-february-15-what-happened-on-this-day-shawinigan-handshake/37075d18-960c-4237-8759-d6358032b2be" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some people came my way," he later remarked.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I had to go, so if you're in my way…"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The incident would later be described as a Shawinigan handshake, named after the prime minister's hometown.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-february-5-what-happened-on-this-day/fd3ab70d-3622-47b7-bd02-b11bdf46e5f5"><strong><span>Comedy taken off air mid-episode after just ten minutes</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clennett declined to press charges against the prime minister, but another man accused him of assault over the Shawinigan handshake.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was formally charged by a judge, but the attorney-general of Quebec declined to prosecute Chretien.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The incident did not have a substantial impact on his popularity, and he was elected as prime minister for two more terms.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clennett himself has run for office in </span><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/getaway/scenic-canada-iii/be6798d8-86f6-4f6a-88eb-dffb400b2bd5" rel="" target="" title="Quebec"><span>Quebec</span></a><span>, coming third both times.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chretien had been on edge about his own safety since a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-november-5-what-happened-on-this-day-in-pictures/a6075033-3bd4-4c81-8f8f-e7dfef10b259#3" rel="" target="" title="break-in at his residence in November the previous year"><span>break-in at his residence in November the previous year</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An armed man broke into the official home of Chretien on November 5, 1995, with the intention of murdering him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Andre Dallaire spent 20 minutes outside 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa waving at security cameras before he broke into the official residence about 3am.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was putting on his gloves when he was confronted by Chretien's wife Aline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She rushed to the bedroom and locked the door, waking up her sleeping husband.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prime minister told her she had a bad dream and told her to go to sleep. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead, she called the police stationed outside the residence. It took the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/canada-school-shooting-update-tumbler-ridge-canada-in-shock-after-one-of-the-countrys-worst-mass-shootings/1b6a5173-cd24-4cdb-878e-9e427dde04fa" rel="" target="" title="Royal Canadian Mounted Police"><span>Royal Canadian Mounted Police</span></a><span> seven minutes to come to their rescue, because the first officer had forgotten his key.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In June of 1996, Dallaire was found guilty of attempting to kill Jean Chretien. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But a judge found him not criminally responsible for his actions because he was schizophrenic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-january-16-what-happened-on-this-day/d418398b-02f8-4877-8c25-c401da6b63ef" target="" title=""><strong><span>Hollywood's biggest star settled lawsuit over wife's death for $10</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span></span></em><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><em><span> </span></em><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><em><span> </span></em><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><em><span> </span></em><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><em><span> </span></em><a href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=9news.com.au"><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a><em></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><em><span> </span></em><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine"><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a><em></em></p></li></ul></div></div>