It’s been a fascinating month of revelations for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to say the least.

On October 3, Harper drew a standing ovation for his performance with famed cellist YoYo Ma at the black tie event for the National Arts Centre gala.

This yearly event is a showcase for the rich and powerful elite in Ottawa society, with all the pomp and ceremony that such a prestigious, invitation only soiree commands.

One would think that should the Prime Minister wish to entertain the assembled dignitaries, his preference might run to light classical music, or perhaps nothing more radical than Michael Buble.

Which only made his choice of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” all the more unexpected.

Notwithstanding the obviously smirk worthy enjoyment in listening to the normally staid and politically correct PM uttering the words ‘I get high with a little help from my friends’ multiple times, there was rightfully no mention in any reporting of the impromptu concert regarding the lack of Canadian song content for Harpers’ foray into the heady world of show business.

After all, what proud Canadian would legitimately admit any misgivings about The Beatles? Their message of peace, love and rock ‘n roll is universally appealing and the furthest thing in the world from politically charged.

Nonetheless, I think I speak for the vast majority of the population who were both duly impressed with Harper’s singing and piano skills, and equally surprised at his choice of such a liberal, one might even say ‘Hippy’ tune, complete with an overt drug reference and meme of togetherness and brotherhood.

It was akin to having John Diefenbaker appear on MuchMusic wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt, waving a Bob Marley album and pleading to anyone who might listen to ‘legalize it!’

Just as the nation was getting used to the idea of the PM appearing next on Canadian Idol, banging out his version of AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell,“ Harper revealed yet another jaw dropping admission on October 22 at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Convention in Toronto, when asked his opinion of Canadian news.

For a Prime Minister and a political party that has made photo opportunities into the kind of meticulously managed stage craft worthy of Broadway that Mr. Harper and his minions have become famous for, the very idea that the star of these productions does not even bother to watch the end result, nor the reaction to them by the media or the public, is simply amazing.

What then, one wonders, is the purpose of maintaining such an authoritarian grip on the image of the party and the PM if the main attraction doesn’t even trust the media he presumably designs it all for to present that image in a responsible manner?

When pressed about which American news programming he watches, Harper declined to comment on any specifics, almost as though he were more concerned about the reaction to his preferences among U.S. journalists and networks than he was those of his own country.

While these events seem unrelated, it’s difficult to reconcile the image of the PM belting out John Lennon lyrics to a bemused and astonished gathering of business scions and socialites, and his nonchalant confession in front of the nations’ media that Canadian news is not worthy of his attention.

The Prime Minister it seems, is a far more interesting individual than he has led us to believe.

Are Canadians now to expect further admissions to include his penchant for zebra stripped underwear versus boxers, or that he and his wife stroll 24 Sussex in the nude, or that he doesn’t stoop and scoop when walking the family dog?

There is still a week and a half left in the month; here’s hoping.

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Tags: Conservative Party, stephen harper

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 8:14 pm and is filed under Federal Government. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.