The fuddle duddle incident in Canadian political history occurred on February 16, 1971 when Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Elliott Trudeau was alleged to have spoken or at least mouthed unparliamentary language in the House of Commons, causing a minor scandal. Trudeau mentioned the words "fuddle duddle" in an ambiguous answer to questions about what he may or may not have said in Parliament.

In February 1971, opposition MPs accused Trudeau of having mouthed the words "fuck off" at them in the House of Commons. When pressed by television reporters on the matter, Trudeau would only freely admit having moved his lips, answering the question, "What were you thinking, when you moved your lips?" by rhetorically asking in return "What is the nature of your thoughts, gentlemen, when you say 'fuddle duddle' or something like that?" Thus, it remained unclear what Trudeau actually mouthed.

Origin of the phrase[link]

There is a popular misconception that "fuddle duddle" was coined as a euphemism by the Hansard reporter who prepared the official transcript of Trudeau's words for that parliamentary session. However, Hansard did not record the exchange.^[1] In any case, Trudeau used it during a media scrum in the immediate aftermath of the parliamentary incident itself, leaving little time for a Hansard transcript to be consulted or even prepared.

Trudeau may have coined the phrase on the spot. It did not gain wide currency in the long term, and did not enter most dictionaries of Canadian English, other than the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.^[2]

Media coverage[link]

An unofficial transcript of the CBC clip is as follows:

John Lundrigan: The question I raised to the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada was that the government should introduce some new programs to lift the unemployment burden over and above what has been announced since last March. The Prime Minister interrupted me in a way that you wouldn't expect on the street, by mouthing a four-letter obscenity which I've challenged him to verbally place on the record and I don't think he's done so since. And I certainly didn't expect this kind of behaviour from my Prime Minister of Canada, having worshipped and really adored men like John Diefenbaker and Mr Pearson and a lot of other people in the past. This to me is really inexcusable and, well I guess we're just going to have to grin and bear it, along with the Lapalme workers.

Lincoln Alexander: He mouthed two words, the first word of which started with F, and the second word of which started with O. And he said it twice to John Lundrigan, the member from Gander—Twillingate, and he also said the same thing to me. Now I think that we've reached a point where this type of conduct, it's not only disgraceful but it's unacceptable, and I tried to bring that point home. Now of course the Prime Minister wants to split hairs and states that he didn't say it, but when he mouthed it, it was readily recognizable by me as to what he said and what he meant.

Pierre Trudeau: Well what are they, lip readers or something?

Press: Did you…?

Pierre Trudeau: Of course I didn't say anything. I mean that's a…

Press: Did you mouth anything?

Pierre Trudeau: I moved my lips and I used my hands in a gesture of derision, yes. But I didn't say anything. If these guys want to read lips and they want to see something into it, you know that's their problem. I think they're very sensitive. They come in the House and they make all kinds of accusations, and because I smile at them in derision they come stomping out and what, go crying to momma or to television that they've been insulted or something?

[later in the press conference]

Pierre Trudeau: Well, it's a lie, because I didn't say anything.

Press: Sir, did you mouth it?

Pierre Trudeau: [visibly annoyed] What does “mouth” mean?

Press: Move your lips.

Pierre Trudeau: Move your lips? Yes I moved my lips!

Press: In the words you've been quoted as saying?

Pierre Trudeau: [half smile] No.

Press: (After murmurs by other press) What were you thinking… when you moved your lips?

Pierre Trudeau: What is the nature of your thoughts, gentlemen, when you say “fuddle duddle” or something like that? God, you guys…! [walks away]

In popular culture[link]

There was, in 1971-72, a short-lived satirical magazine called Fuddle Duddle, which aspired to be the Canadian equivalent of Mad magazine; however it lasted only five issues before publication ceased.^[3]

At least two songs related to the incident were released as record singles. "Fuddle Duddle" by Antique Fair was written by Greg Hambleton and released on the Tuesday label through Quality Records (catalogue GH107X). "Do the Fuddle Duddle" written by Gary Alles, performed by The House of Commons and released on GRT Records (catalogue 1233-04).^[4][5][6]

Mont Tremblant Resort has a ski run named Fuddle Duddle. Trudeau had been a regular visitor to the resort in the past.^[7]

See also[link]

• List of political catch phrases
• Unparliamentary language

References[link]

1. ^ "Hansard FAQs". CBC News In Depth: Canadian government. October 27, 2006. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdngovernment/hansard.html. Retrieved February 29, 2012. 
2. ^ Peter Sypnowich. "Fuddle duddle". http://peter-sypnowich.com/articles/article339.html. Retrieved February 29, 2012. 
3. ^ "Guardians of the North - You've Got to Be Kidding". Government of Canada. 2008-02-19. http://culturecanada.gc.ca/keyrefsearch.cfm?pr=CHRWALK&lang=eng&cmd=context&id=4719aa04230. Retrieved 2009-12-30. 
4. ^ "Industry cashes in on Trudeau mime act". RPM. 1971-03-06. p. 18. 
5. ^ "Antique Fair". The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. Jam!/Canoe. http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/A/Antique_Fair.html. Retrieved 2009-12-30. 
6. ^ "House of Commons". The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. Jam!/Canoe. http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/H/House_Of_Commons.html. Retrieved 2009-12-30. 
7. ^ Thibaudeau, Guy (March 13, 1981). "Laurentian Hills Echos Quebec Skiing History". The Montreal Gazette: pp. 27. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19810313&id=mDkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vaQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1541,988378. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 

External links[link]

• "CBC Archives: Fuddle Duddle 1971" (video). CBCtv. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXKSGRyZtz8.  (also at "Trudeau's 'fuddle duddle' incident" (video). CBC. http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/prime_ministers/clip/2955/. )

v t e Pierre Trudeau Political activities Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69 · Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, 1968 · Trudeauism · Trudeaumania (Fuddle duddle) · Just society · Official bilingualism in Canada · Petro-Canada · National Energy Program · Constitution Act, 1982 · Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms · Foreign Investment Review Agency · Opportunities for Youth · October Crisis/War Measures Act  · Multiculturalism in Canada Elections Canadian federal election, 1968 · Canadian federal election, 1972 · Canadian federal election, 1974 · Canadian federal election, 1979 · Canadian federal election, 1980 Staff Jean Charpentier Life Death and state funeral Family Margaret Trudeau · Justin Trudeau · Alexandre Trudeau · Michel Trudeau · Charles Trudeau

Dominique Michel, OC, CQ (born September 24, 1932 in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec as Aimée Sylvestre) is a Quebec comedian, actress, singer and artist.

Biography[link]

She began her career in cabarets performing songs written by Raymond Lévesque and subsequently sang with Jean Coutu. She made her television debut co-hosting a variety show then widened her audience with her first sitcom Moi et l'autre in which she co-starred with Denise Filiatrault. The show was an enormous success during its run from 1966 to 1972 and made Michel a household name in Quebec.

She has been married only once in 1958 to New York Rangers all star Camille Henry but later divorced. From 1977 to 1982, she had numerous leading roles in television programs such as Dominique, Chère Isabelle and Métro-boulot-dodo.

Michel's first film role was in Tiens-toi bien après les oreilles à papa with Yvon Deschamps in 1971. She played for cineast Denys Arcand in two movies well-known outside of Quebec: Le Déclin de l'empire américain and its sequel Les Invasions barbares.

She is also a comedian. She notably co-starred with Daniel Lemire and has hosted the Festival Juste pour rire multiple times. Michel also showed her multiple comedic talents in the year-end review show Bye Bye from Radio-Canada in which she would do multiple impressions on top of hosting the 90 minutes special.

In 1994, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for her encouragement of humour and her contribution to the cultural life of the country." ^[1] In 2002, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec. In 1995, she received, jointly with Denise Filiatrault, the Grand Prix Gémeau from l'Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision for lifetime achievements.

In 2010, at 77, it was announced that she had colon cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy treatments, she declared in April 2011 that she was cancer-free.

Selected filmography[link]

Movies[link]

• Tiens-toi bien après les oreilles à papa (1971)
• J'ai mon voyage! (1973)
• Les aventures d'une jeune veuve (1974)
• Je suis loin de toi mignonne (1976)
• le Crime d'Ovide Plouffe (1984)
• Le Déclin de l'empire américain (1986)
• Un zoo la nuit (1987)
• Louis 19, le roi des ondes (1994)
• Laura Cadieux... la suite (1999)
• Les Invasions barbares (2003)

Television[link]

• Moi et l'autre (from 1966 to 1972)
• Dominique (from 1977 to 1979)
• Chère Isabelle (1976)
• Métro-boulot-dodo (1982)
• Montréal, ville ouverte (1992)
• Catherine (from 2000 to 2002)

References[link]

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