Stephen Harper just wrapped his first ever press conference as Prime Minister in the National Press Theatre. Other prime ministers, his own cabinet, and many politicians have used the NPT (located, as pictured on the left, on the first floor of the National Press Building on Wellington Street) but, upon taking office, Harper preferred to hold his press conferences in the foyer of the House of Commons with a podium in front of him. At those, he would stand. At the NPT, Harper sat at a desk.
And then there’s The List.
It’s gone. Kaput. No explanation and none needed. Everyone behaved themselves as Le Devoir reporter and Parliamentary Press Gallery executive member Hélène Buzzetti called out each journalist’s name who, in turn, stuck to the rules of one question each with no followup.
Harper himself looked as comfortable and upbeat as I’ve seen him in front of a packed house full of reporters. Dare I say it, but I think he might have been enjoying himself.
And, as I’ve said before, sometimes to Harper himself, answering questions is his strong suit. He’s very good at it. We heard him analyze the regional disparities of the New Brunswick economy; assess the military situation on the ground in Afghanistan; and joke about some major acquisitions some Canadian banks are making in the U.S.
Harper made lots of news today. For example, he is no longer looking for ‘consensus’ on extending the combat mission in Afghanistan. Instead, he’ll look for a simple majority of Parliament’s will. That is likely to drive a wedge in the Liberal Party as some MPs agree that there should be a role for the Canadian Forces, perhaps a combat one, beyond 2009. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion does not want a combat role although Dion will consider roles for Canadian troops in other parts of the country.
Harper also said his next budget will have tax cuts — some big ones.
I’ll post up some transcripts of the 45–minute press conference as I’m able to.