Harper, for the second consecutive year, has shut down/ prorogued Parliament to escape political pressure, banking on the electorate forgetting or becoming preoccupied with something new. Last year, he successfully fended off the threat of a coalition government. This year, commentators agree his main objective is avoiding questions on why his government didn’t stop the Canadian military from handing over captives to the Afghanistan army despite widespread reports of torture. The furor was sparked by the testimony of ‘whistleblower’ Canadian diplomat, Richard Colvin. Another suggested Harper motive is gaining majorities on Senate committees. The official excuse Harper gave was they needed time to prepare their upcoming budget. A spokesman said they wanted “to consult with Canadians, stakeholders and businesses”.

No one has consulted me. What about you? Doesn’t the Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, prepare the budget, not the whole cabinet or Parliament? Regarding “consultation”, Harper talks about it a lot, but has consistently acted with a presidential sense of privilege and entitlement, even though a minority of Canadians voted for him.

Parliament was prorogued from January 25 to March 3, conveniently after the Vancouver Olympics. What has Harper and his senior cabinet been up to, apart from feverishly working on their budget? My own (incomplete) investigative report:

Jan 25. Harper invites the world to Canada to discuss the Haitian earthquake. He gets global photo ops. Canadian sympathy for Haiti is commendable, but why is Canada taking the lead when more historically significant countries like France and the USA should be leading the charge?

Jan 28 Harper speaks at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Jane Taber of the Globe and Mail writes, “It’s a pretty exclusive event – by invitation only. In previous years, the United Nations Secretary-General has shown up as has King Abdullah of Jordan and even Bill Gates. This year the 2,500 invited guests will be dealing with the theme: “Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign and Rebuild.”….Flaherty and International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan are attending, as is Quebec Premier Jean Charest. From the business side are Peter Munk, the chairman of Barrick Gold; Sonja Bata, who heads the Bata Shoe Foundation; Guy Hachey, president and chief operating officer of Bombardier Aerospace; and Monique Leroux, board chair and CEO of Desjardins Group. You get the idea.”

Feb 5: Sports Illustrated article on “avid hockey historian”, Harper, talking about hockey and the upcoming Olympics.

Feb 5. The Star features a pix of Harper and son, Ben, at a Calgary Flames hockey game.

Feb 5. The Harper government triumphantly announces an agreement with the USA to partially exempt Canadians from the “Buy American” legislation in the USA. Many commentators think Canada gave up significant concessions just to get the hope that the Americans will look favourably on us. Liberal Scott Brison comments, “This deal is a pathetic attempt to try to create some level of symbolic victory when, in fact, a real deal was required to defend Canadian interests…There is absolutely no reason the government couldn't have concluded this deal last March."

Feb 6 Flaherty hosts a G7 Finance Ministers Meeting in Iqaluit. Photo ops of Flaherty riding a snowmobile and (inadvertently) damaging an igloo.

Feb 6 Harper hosts a hockey TV “ hot stove” (more ‘leadership’ photo ops) in Saskatoon, quizzing hockey greats, Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky.

Feb 12. Olympics start. Harper is prominent at the Opening Ceremony and subsequently is seen congratulating Canadian medal winners. Shouldn’t he be helping Flaherty with their Super Budget?

Feb 16 Sylvaine Laroque, Canadian Press: “During a tour of Haitian disaster zones, Prime Minister Stephen Harper touted his government's military purchases and cited current relief efforts as evidence his approach worked”.
Feb 19 Jane Taber, Globe & Mail: “Halfway through the Winter Olympics and Stephen Harper's Tories are already out with a new video campaign, starring Mike Duffy, pitching pride and patriotism in our athletes and country. It didn’t take them long to use the Games to appeal to supporters.,, he (Duffy) appears in the video with a supporting cast of one – Senator Nancy Greene Raine, who is also Canada’s Olympic ambassador…Ms. Greene Raine compares the athletes to ‘our strong leader’, Mr. Harper, who is in a competition of his own: ‘With our strong leader, Canada will continue to compete with the world’s best’…Duffy, who also refers to his colleague as ‘my Olympic champion’, goes on to say, ‘We Conservatives are champions in our own right’.

Feb 20 CTV features a piece entitled, “Stephen Harper balances job, hockey dad dutiesFeb 22 The Toronto Star reports that Stephen Harper is among 11 founding Reform Party members who will collect over $100,000 annually (Harper $150, 244) in pensions when they retire. In 1993, the Reform Party members advocated cutting MP pensions and said they would refuse such benefits! Talk is indeed cheap.,, even though MP pensions are not.