LAVAL – National newspaper reporter Eric Hitchens wasted his first chance to ask Stephen Harper a question in over two months by first posing whether it would be acceptable to ask a question.
“I caught up with him on the campaign trail and for the first time in 70 days, when I opened my mouth there was no staffer there to tell me the event was ‘photo only’ or claim ‘the Prime Minister has to run to a meeting with the ambassador from Uruguay,” said the 20 year veteran of the Parliamentary press corps.
“I panicked. As soon as the words were out of mouth I knew what he would do. He smiled the widest I’ve ever seen him smile, and said ‘you just did.’ Then he was gone,” Hitchens added.
PMO spokespeople were quick to point out that the Prime Minister had in fact spoken with several people who didn’t work directly for him that morning, well beyond his usual average. Cindy McNabb stated:
“The Prime Minister considers it a vital part of his duty to interact with the press, provided there is nothing he would rather be doing at the moment. With that in mind we have given journalists the opportunity to ask as many as 5 questions a year. Mr. Hitchens simply exceeded his annual quota.”
McNabb then advised that if people really want insights from the PM, they should follow his YouTube show 24/Seven, whose most recent episode has less views than a tutorial on how to make pound cake.
