A paper route at the age of nine spurred Conservative MP Andrew Scheer's interest in news and politics. In high school, Scheer volunteered for the Reform Party, and after graduation it turned into a full time job working in the Opposition Leader's Office giving him a front row seat to the turbulent machinations of uniting the right. Scheer worked for all three leaders during those exciting times; Preston Manning; Deborah Grey; Stockwell Day and eventually Stephen Harper. In the meantime, Andrew met his future wife Jill, where love took him away from Ottawa to her hometown of Regina. In 2004, Andrew happily ensconced in Saskatchewan with his newlywed bride and a job as an insurance broker, decided to run for federal office. Scheer's only hurdle was that he was running in a riding held by the NDP for almost 30 years without interruption,  against long time NDP incumbent Lorne Nystrom. The margin was only 861 votes, but it was enough. Once in Ottawa, Andrew took to Parliament Hill like a duck to water. After the 2008 election Andrew ran for speaker and although he didn't win, he earned enough votes to be named Deputy Speaker. He talks to Catherine Clark about his work, his wife Jill and their 3 children and his life Beyond Politics. 

NDP MP Joe Comartin grew up on a farm near the tiny village of Stoney Point in what is now Windsor, Ontario. Life wasn't easy for the Comartins: Joe's father died when he was only one and it was left to Joe's mother Loretto to raise eight children on her own. Joe excelled at school, becoming the first in his family to graduate from university. He eventually became a lawyer. Joe has always been interested in politics. Like many MPs, Joe was president of his student council, but held off on pursuing public life until after his own children had left home. Joe first ran unsuccessfully for the NDP in 1999. A year later, Joe tried again and won. He has been the MP for Windsor-Tecumseh ever since. Married to wife Melanie for the last 40 years, he has three children, Eric, Adam and Heidi. Joe Comartin talks to Catherine Clark about his life Beyond Politics.

Conservative MP Paul Calandra always wanted to be a politician, and not just any politician,  but the prime minister of Canada. In 2008,  Paul made his first big step towards realizing that dream when he was elected as the MP for Oak Ridges-Markham. The father of two (his youngest was born in the middle of the 2008 campaign), Paul was the youngest of four children born to Italian immigrants who settled in Toronto in the 1960s. Paul's father was a barber who had his own salon and later moved into real estate.  Paul attended Carleton University, majoring in political science before returning to Toronto and going into business for himself. Paul later worked with Ontario cabinet minister Steve Gilchrist and Prime Minister Stephen Harper before deciding to enter the political ring himself. Paul Calandra talks to Catherine Clark about his life Beyond Politics.