1-on-1 with Harper

Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn't give one-on-one interviews very often, so it's worth having a look when he does.

And Angelo Persichilli, political editor of the Corriere Canadese, an Italian-language daily, is the reporter who did the one-on-one. It appears he was travelling with Harper, because the interview is datelined "London" and appears in this week's Hill Times.

Harper doesn't talk in this friendly interview about the Bernier affair, which overshadowed his European trip last week, or the mixup about whether Italy was getting rid of the so-called "caveats" on its troop commitments in Afghanistan.

Harper does talk about Kyoto and climate change, saying that some of the nations who signed on to Kyoto are now having "a wave of realism" because of high oil prices.

"I think now they're starting to ask hard questions about how they will actually meet their targets, about how much it will cost ... I've always said this to Canadians. There's going to be some pain in tackling greenhouse gas emissions. And that pain is a lot less if everybody gets on board."

Persichilli also doesn't seem to have asked the PM about the controversy over how Canada blundered into the U.S. presidential election a few months back -- the subject of an investigation and rather inconclusive report ten days ago from Privy Council Clerk Kevin Lynch.

But there is a bit of talk in the interview about the U.S. election.

Q: Election time in the States. Are you watching the campaign?
PM: Very closely.

Q: Do you expect a change in their politics?
PM: I think there will be changes. It's been an administration for eight years. They're going to have a new president. I think they're going to want some change.... I've said all along that whoever wins in the United States, whoever is the president, whichever party controls Congress, the government of Canada will always work with our great friends and neighbours and in protecting Canadian interests and ensuring the best relationships that we can have, while protecting those interests. And I know there's been some consternation in Canada about the positions taken by some American politicians, but I have seen nothing to suggest to me that Canada would have anything other than a very good relationship with the future president or future Congress."

Comments

[Sandi]

Persichilli is an admitted Conservative - when I know a reporter is totally biased I pay absolutely no attention to them - because I know they will twist things to the direction they want you to go.

This reporter isn't worth his weight in pennies.

We are in desparate need of unbaised, honest journalist who do not try to twist our thinking.

[Imethisguy]

Sandi:

And you are reading The Star??
The Star, who have in their mission statement the promotion of Liberal and liberal ideals?

[Sandi]

I'm reading Susan Delacourt - have a problem with that Imethisguy? Why you reading the Star????

If you go back and read some of Persichilli's stuff - you'll know what I mean - he does a lot of speculation and a lot of it has been wrong.

[Wascally wabbit]

Harper is still the master of misdirection...
"...but I have seen nothing to suggest to me that Canada would have anything other than a very good relationship with the future president or future Congress."
Canada might - we have a long history of generally good relations...our current Prime minister might find he is ostracized, (much as Jean Cretien was when he stayed out of an American war) if Barack Obama is elected President, because Harper apparently got involved in an American nomination war!

[Imethisguy]

I have absolutely no problem with that at all, as you say, I am reading The Star myself right this instant, but for someone to point to Persichili as biased (and I don't doubt that he is- everyone is) and imply that there may be someone who isn't biased is dreaming.
The trick is, IMHO, to read widely, and allow for the bias of the journalist.
May I assume that you read the (biased) National Post, or some of the (biased) conservative and Conservative bloggers as well?