The Accidental Citizen?

Equally as varied were the triggers that ignited the would-be MPs' interest in politics. Often these triggers were the result of chance rather than personal focus or ambition. A few MPs cited their early upbringing, but most did not. “I happened to be reading [a local magazine] and there was an ad on how you might consider supporting the Reform Party,” one MP said. “I submitted my application, my fee, and became a member, still not intending to run for politics.”

Many cited pivotal points when their lives intersected with political leaders. Some had an interaction with a particular politician and were captivated, or dismayed, by their remarks. One MP recalled feeling inspired upon meeting Tommy Douglas while he was the leader of the New Democratic Party. A few from the Reform Party spoke of meeting Preston Manning, or hearing him give a speech. Others slowly grew to resent the leadership style of a particular Prime Minister, and wished for something better.

Other MPs found a connection to politics when a particular local, regional or global event evoked a response in them. Constitutional debates, the Charlottetown Accord and the Quebec referendums of 1980 and 1995 were lightning rods for many, particularly those from Quebec and the West. “I was very disgusted with some of the things taking place at the federal level, particularly with the idea of bringing [home] the Constitution and the Charter of Rights [in 1982],” one former MP said. Another remarked, “Definitely the 1980 referendum was the platform to launch my political career.... They can package it up any way they want to, but the fact is that [the separatists] want to divide the country. The country would not be the same, no matter how you slice it.”

Several MPs recalled coming of age during the 1960s, when the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King made them realize that politics matters. Those who’d grown up or spent time abroad saw potential in Canada, and when they returned viewed politics as a way to affect change. “I worked on the War on Poverty in Dallas and I could never have conceived of such a vast spread between those who have wealth and those who have nothing,” said one MP. “Spending that year in Dallas put a lot of things in stark relief for me, and I came back to Canada feeling really energized politically.”

Some attributed their involvement to encouragement by friends or colleagues. One lawyer, contemplating a move to the judiciary, was encouraged by a mentor to consider politics instead. “It would suit your personality better,” the future MP was told. Another MP, a financial executive, had a party pamphlet tossed across the table at him during a work negotiation. “You should join this,” his colleague said. He read the pamphlet, and was intrigued. He later joined the party.

For others, friends’ political involvement had an influence, although less directly. “I had some friends [involved in the party]. The party had this convention, and CPAC was covering it. I was flipping channels and thought, ‘Oh, this is interesting. I’ll watch.’ I began to listen to what the people at the microphone were talking about. This began to resonate with me.... I decided ‘I’m going to look [the party] up in the phone book.’ I phoned somebody and they sent me some literature. I read all of this stuff and joined.”

In fact, there were no easily discernable patterns in the pre-Ottawa lives and careers of these MPs. Apart from their “outsider” self-definition and their community experiences – two themes we’ll discuss in the next section – their personal histories lacked a common narrative. This diverse range of experiences caused us to observe that, at least for these MPs, there was no “political class” in Canada.

It would take many years, but all of these disparate lives converged when they decided to run for office.