The Stephen Harper the Media Refuses to Talk About
I got some inside information on the PM’s recent visit to the Thunder Bay Superior North riding a couple of weeks ago. For those of you unaware (which is likely most of you since the national press stayed in Ottawa), he came to the town of Nipigon, to announce the creation of a marine protection area for the north shore of Lake Superior, an important environmental announcement. However, more important is a couple of facts:
1) He was the first sitting Prime Minister ever to visit Nipigon. Nipigon is a small town, its economically depressed right now. Their major employer had a major fire last year which essentially closed the facility (local grocery stores here in Thunder Bay took up donations of food to send to the people of Nipigon at the time), and its been a tough road for them. They could have announced it in Thunder Bay, the major center of the region, or in any of the other small towns, but Nipigon was selected precisely because it was neglected by previous federal governments, and had been going through hard times and could use the pick-me-up. It is also worth noting that the Nipigon area is a lot of union folk, and tends to drift towards the NDP, not Conservative.
2) To get to Nipigon he had to travel by motorcade down one of Canada’s worst highways about 100km, this was done over the objections of his security detail, and his planning people who felt it was a waste of his time.
3) When Harper arrived, the kids from a Nipigon school had come out to welcome him with signs, and he directed his motorcade to stop (over the objections of his security detail again), and he spend at least 10 minutes meeting the school kids and talking to them and their teachers.
4) After the announcement was made, there was to be a photo op downtown by the lake, and while he was there Harper noticed a bunch of seniors from a Nipigon nursing home who were out to enjoy the nice weather, they had been bused down to have a couple of hours of fresh air. He decided to go over and introduce himself, and all the seniors were quite tickled to have met the Prime Minister of Canada. During his drive back to Thunder Bay, he delayed his schedule again to stop at the truck stop in Pass Lake, and met some folk there as well.
5) After a meeting regarding economic development in the north and a demonstration of long distance health care services being provided (which is a very important federal initiative which Northern Ontario is a world leader in), he was supposed to go to Kenora for another roundtable on development. The Superior North MP, Joe Commuzzi (CPC now after having been kicked out of the Liberal party for supporting a budget which included 57 Million for an important molecular research facility in the city), convinced the Prime Minister, again over the objections of his security team to divert his flight to Dryden and visit the town for a few hours and talk to leaders there. After arriving at the airport a couple of native children were waiting along the route with signs to welcome him (there was about 12 hours notice of the change in his plans to divert to Dryden), he had his motorcade stop so he could meet them (again against the objections of the security team). Later, as he was leaving, the local school had hundreds of students come with signs to greet him as he went to the airport, and he again stopped and spent a significant amount of time talking to them. One student told Commuzzi that he was never washing his hand again after having shook Harper’s hand (something his parents will no doubt object to).
All in all, the image of Harper as aloof and distant, a policy wonk who cares about control and getting elected is a distortion. The real Stephen Harper is one who is warm and caring, and who goes out of his way to brighten the days of others, and who is really concerned with getting things done for people, and especially people in Northern Ontario.
Great story, thanks for posting it. The MSM didn’t cover any of that because it would make him look good and might even result in favourable polls (heaven forbid!) So long as the Liberals run the media it will be an uphill battle for the Conservative Party and especially the PM.
—PeterShame on you for revealing Prime Minister Steven Harper’s hidden agenda!!! Did you get permission from headquarters to do this blog? Hummmmm? You might be in serious trouble for giving us a positive glimpse of the PM.
Seriously, very nice post about our PM! Too bad the media has their own hidden agenda, making PM Harper look as bad as they can, never print anything nice about him, and always print the worse picture they can find of him.
—HunterWonderful story.
—jWhen next I am subjected to some tripe about Stéphane Dion shaking hands and meeting the people I am going to recall this story.
Maybe our Prime Minister might just want to get out of the Commons for a month or so and just travel around as he did here, in place after place. Sounds to me as though he would have ended the day feeling as good as the people he talked to.
—Bruce StewartGreat Post, thanx
—SumbuddyIts great to read posts like this.Makes you feel good after reading all the feel bad MSM articles and the bad news opposition parties rantings.PM Harper is so far above these yahoos its astounding.They are used to the incoherant language of Chretien and the foolishness of Trudeau along with the foolish promises of Martin.When an honest to goodness honest Prime Minister comes along after all these years of lies and theft,the MSM have no clue how to deal with it.I want to know more about this Man,,Parent,,Prime Minister,because there is a lot more of these feel good stories we dont hear about because of our rotten to the core MSM.How proud did he make us with his speech at Vimy.How proud does he make us when he speaks at NATO or in other foreign countries.They dont laugh behind his back like they did at Chretien.When he speaks they listen and know that he means what he says and is one of the most respected leaders in the free world.He just doesnt care about the press and the way they twist the truth.This is all so evident on Mike Duffy live on TV and also Don newmans hour long program.He has given Toronto more than its share of money for infra structure and LIEING mCguinty still says he does nothing for Toronto.If ever the Liberals get back in power,this is one man that will be sorely missed by not the MSM or the disloyal opposition parties,but by the ordinary Canadian,who will be saying WHAT HAVE WE DONE and STEVEN WE HARDLY KNEW YOU.By then it will be too late and you can thank the MSM
—bert