Harper strikes a bad note with Savoie

Yesterday, we were the first to tell you Stephen Harper is scheduled to address the British Columbia legislature next week. Upon hearing that news, Victoria MP Denise Savoie, a New Democrat, said, "I'm assuming it's a pre-Olympic formality. But I guess I would prefer it if he were speaking to the members of parliament in Ottawa rather than addressing the provincial legislature" - a reference to the prime minister's decision to prorogue parliament. In fact, Ms. Savoie found it surprising Mr. Harper "prefers to speak to a provincial legislature over the parliament he supposedly leads" because of the prime minister's tendency to steer his government clear of issues that are outside of the federal jurisdiction.