Harper revs up damage control

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO Maxime Bernier arrives to be sworn in as foreign affairs minister last August accompanied by Julie Couillard.

There was quite the scramble here in the last half hour, when we learned that Prime Minister Stephen Harper wanted to pronounce himself on the controversy over Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier and his ex-girlfriend, Julie Couillard, who has also dated Hells Angels bikers.

Apparently, Harper wanted to make this rare foray before the microphones to label the opposition leaders as "gossipy, old busybodies." Seriously.

So we can all stand down. Though it's known that Bernier was warned only a few weeks ago that he'd be out of cabinet after one more gaffe like this, he's lived to fight another day.

I'm betting that Harper wanted to utter the "busybodies" line himself in Question Period, which starts in about a half hour, but he doesn't want to field the Bernier questions on national TV. The Prime Minister tends to only get on his feet to reply to questions from opposition leaders, and sometimes not even then.

A Conservative told me  this week that Harper likes to supply attack lines to cabinet ministers and has been known to chide them after Question Period if they miss an obvious opening to slam a Liberal.

Update: I wonder if Harper feared he was being a "gossipy, old busybody" or not minding his own business  when he had this to say about the defection of Belinda Stronach to the Liberals in May 2005?

"I think Peter is taking this pretty hard, as you could imagine,"  Harper said.

or

"If she has such a high opinion of Peter MacKay, I would venture today after my discussion with him, she has an awfully tough way of conveying that to him."

(For those who have amnesia or were perhaps travelling in the space shuttle at the time, Harper was tut-tutting over how Stronach broke the heart of her then-boyfriend, Peter MacKay, when she left the Conservative party.)

 

Comments

[Brent Slobodin]

Yes, Harper likes to do that for his Cabinet ministers because he is at bottom, a mean and petty little man. Not a leader.

[James Curran]

Harper also forgot Conservative attacks on Navdeep Bains father, quoting security as an issue.

[Gabby in QC]

"The Prime Minister tends to only get on his feet to reply to questions from opposition leaders, and sometimes not even then."

Ms. Delacourt, I realize your partisan anti-Conservative bias precludes your pointing out anything the Conservatives have done that has benefitted Canada and Canadians. However, I would at least expect you to be a bit more truthful.

I watch QP daily, and the PM ALWAYS answers the questions from opposition leaders. Now, whether you like the answers that are given is an entirely different question.

In any case, you really should try to mask your utter contempt for the PM, if only to keep up the pretense of the so-called objectivity of the press.
It is obvious from your habit of referring to the PM as "Harper" - both here and on the Friday pundits' panel on Politics - while unfailingly using the "Mr." title with the names of Liberals. It really does stick in your craw that Mr. Harper is the Prime Minister.
Life is so unfair sometimes! Oh well, take heart, your buddies will be in government again someday.

[Irene]

watch QP daily, and the PM ALWAYS answers the questions from opposition leaders. Now, whether you like the answers that are given is an entirely different question.

In any case, you really should try to mask your utter contempt for the PM, if only to keep up the pretense of the so-called objectivity of the press.
It is obvious from your habit of referring to the PM as "Harper" - both here and on the Friday pundits' panel on Politics - while unfailingly using the "Mr." title with the names of Liberals. It really does stick in your craw that Mr. Harper is the Prime Minister.
Life is so unfair sometimes! Oh well, take heart, your buddies will be in government again someday.

Posted by James

James, you are not the only one who watches QP & I beg to differ with you. First of all, maybe you who should take off your blue colored glasses & recognize black is black & white is white. You said Harper always answers the questions asked by the opposition leader. False. He talks the talk but skirts the truth with non-answers & insults & if you can't see that, I believe your in for a rude awakening real soon.

Harper is the biggest disappointment for Canadians in general. I don't like where he is taking us, he's a lousy leader for Canadians & its high time he takes the high road. BTW, Harper doesn't deserve to have Mr. or PM in front of his name.

Regards

[bettie]

I heard you repeat what you said in this article on 'Politics' this afternoon. (I guess you thought it was clever or insightful, or something). A non sequitor (sp) if ever there was. There is nothing gossipy or busibodyness about his remarks re Peter and Belinda, and to claim it is such, is a real stretch. Your partisanship is showing. Try to be fair.

[Neil Shea]

Ms Delacourt.

I commend you for posting Gabby in QC comments, when said "Gabby" hasn't the balls to post his/her own name, address and phone number in his criticism on your reporting. As for your commentary in the public domain I, for the most part find it fair and well balanced. However and depending on the specific story you can be forceful in describing actions or lack thereof on the current administration.

Neil Shea
33 McDowell Ave.
Riverview, NB
506 386-7664