PM Harper in Oz.....

Well! Finally, we can say that we have met a Canadian Prime Minister. The best part though is that we had to come all the way to Australia to do so! As you know, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been in Sydney attending the 2007 APEC Summit. APEC is now over and today Mr. Harper became the first Canadian Prime Minister to address the Australian Parliament. Word has it that the speech was very well received, although he did suggest to Australia's Prime Minister John Howard that if he saw a game of ice hockey, he wouldn't bother with cricket any more! Apparently this got a good laugh.

We were invited to attend the tree planting ceremony at the Canadian High Commission. Here are Mr. and Mrs. Harper with the High Commissioner Mr. Michael Leir. The tree being planted is a Canadian Maple, named "October Fire". Mr. Harper is now the 5th Canadian Prime Minister to plant a tree in Australia.















I didn't have the best vantage point for this picture, sorry!




















We strategically stationed William in the front row behind the rope barrier in his Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, knowing that the Prime Minister is a staunch Calgary Flames fan. Mr. Harper noticed him immediately when he arrived. He pointed to William and said "Hey, are you a Leafs fan? Can you even follow hockey down here? Well, let me assure you that the Leafs are still losing!". He proceeded with the ceremony and during the reception afterward, the PM's photographer singled William out for the following photo-op...




priceless....











Here are the Harper's with the various Canadian defense personnel. From the left is Major Christian Lalande, Colonel Ken O'Brien, LCdr Ian Anderson (handsome chap!), Capt(N) Rick Town (Cdn Defense Advisor), the Harpers, and a few others I don't know...















Here is the PM with representatives of Ice Hockey Australia. Mr. Harper was presented with an official jersey of the Australian national ice hockey team (yes, there is one!).















Mr. Harper noted that he has made ten international trips in his 19 months in office, which goes to show that in this day and age there are no purely domestic issues....

Oh Canada! (we miss you)...