Prime Minister Stephen Harper was the most Google'd federal politician this year.
Harper tops Google Canada's Year in Search for top trending federal politicians of 2014.
The results come after a busy year for the prime minister. From his office's involvement in the ongoing Senate spending scandal to his widely-broadcasted address to the nation in October following the shootings in Ottawa, which he characterized as terrorism, Harper topped headlines many times this year.
The second-most searched federal politician was late finance minister Jim Flaherty, who died suddenly of a heart attack in March. Flaherty, 64, was one of the longest-serving finance ministers in Canadian history.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau came behind Flaherty. Trudeau raised eyebrows on a couple of occasions this year when he suggested that Canada consider a humanitarian mission in Iraq rather than “trying to whip out our CF-18s and show how big they are.” He also got himself into trouble -- especially with wife Sophie Gregoire -- when he dropped an f-bomb at a charity event in March.
Former MP and Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow came in fourth, with Mississauga-Brampton South Conservative MP Eve Adams in fifth.
Adams, also the parliamentary secretary to the minister of health, made news during a spat with another candidate for the Conservative nomination in the riding of Oakville-North Burlington.
Adams’ campaign was highly criticized because her fiance Dimitri Soudas, former senior adviser to Harper, was managing it. Soudas eventually left his post as executive director of the Conservative Party, and Adams withdrew from the race.
Other trending federal politicians this year, from sixth place:
Suspended Senator Mike Duffy. The former journalist, known for his involvement in the Senate expense scandal, was charged in July with 31 criminal offenses including fraud, breach of trust and bribery.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay. His comments on female judges and the 25th anniversary of the massacre at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique prompted reaction from critics this year.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. The opposition leader came under fire from the Conservatives for his party’s use of satellite offices in Montreal and Quebec City.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. The minister had a busy year on the international file, leading Canadian reaction to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Islamic State threat.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.
According to Google Canada, civic engagement was also on the minds of Canadians in 2014, with "How to Vote" leading the top trending questions.
