Hec Clouthier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hector Danial Clouthier (born October 18, 1949 in Pembroke) is a past Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke in Ontario, Canada. He is known for wearing a flamboyant red fedora and his election slogan, "Give 'em Hec".

He originally tried for the Liberal nomination in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke before the 1993 election, but his candidacy was denied by then-party leader Jean Chrétien in favour of sitting MP Len Hopkins. Clouthier ran as an Independent and lost. In the 1997 election was elected as the Liberal MP for the riding, after Hopkins' retirement.

In the 2000 election, he was defeated because of his controversial endorsement of gun control, which has become highly unpopular in the region. He is also been widely criticized for racist views, as evidenced by his opinions on aboriginals ^[1]. After his electoral defeat he was chosen as caucus liaison by Prime Minister Chrétien.

In the 2006 federal election, some people have speculated that independent candidate Paul Kelly, a close political friend, intentionally split the Liberal vote, in order to increase the acceptance local Liberals would have for Hec, whom also has independent roots.^[2] It is said that with the Liberal vote collapse in the 2006 election, Liberal party members would be more open to nominating Hector in the next federal election.