Details sparse on prime minister’s pending visit
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in Whitehorse on Friday
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in Whitehorse on Friday – with plans to make an announcement, the Yukon Conservative Association confirmed Monday.
An electronic invitation from the Conservative Party of Canada indicates the “special event” will take place at 8:45 Friday morning at an unnamed location.
Registration to the event is required, and will take place at 8 a.m.
City councillor Betty Irwin attended this morning’s launch of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s Vote to End Poverty campaign (see coverage in tomorrow’s edition).
Irwin asked coalition president Charlotte Hrenchuk whether the group has been invited to Harper’s event.
Hrenchuk indicated that while the coalition has requested invitations to Harper’s appearances in Whitehorse in the past, it has neither sought nor received an invite to Friday’s function.
“That speaks volumes, doesn’t it?” Irwin replied.
Larry Bagnell, the Yukon’s Liberal candidate in the Oct. 19 election and a former MP, offered to send his own invitation to the crowd at this morning’s anti-poverty campaign launch.
Yukon MP Ryan Leef could not be reached for comment on Harper’s trip.
Leef’s campaign manager, Darren Parsons, could not provide comment today on the impending visit.
The Star’s calls to the offices of the Yukon Conservative Association and the Yukon Party were unanswered before press deadline this afternoon.
After cancelling what would be his 10th annual northern Canada tour, Harper made election campaign pit stops in the N.W.T. and Nunavut last month.
His stay in Iqaluit on Aug. 14 consisted of a brief announcement lauding Conservative MP Leona Aglukkaq’s work in the North and sharing his plans to expand the Junior Canadian Rangers program and create a cultural greeting centre in the territory.
The public statement was followed by a private photo op.
Local news outlets reported that neither supporters in attendance nor the media were allowed to ask Harper any questions.
The prime minister had been in Hay River, N.W.T., earlier that day, where he announced a $14-million makeover to one of the territory’s highways.
Since taking office in early 2006, Harper has made an annual trip to all three territories, seeing the opportunities the North has to offer as well as the challenges faced by its constituents.
There has been no word on the leaders of the Liberals, New Democrats and Greens planning Yukon visits.
Comments (9)
Up 27 Down 2
Mark S on Sep 4, 2015 at 11:48 am
When in Yukon he will announce funding for turkey conservation if he is reelected. Seriously!
Up 33 Down 3
Ryab on Sep 3, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Stephen Harpers campaign bus is like the hunger games escort - and details sparse on appearance. 1 pie in the face and the guy can't take a joke...
Up 79 Down 6
Joe on Sep 2, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Bye bye conservatives!! Thank god this will have been their last term in both federal and territorial..good bye
Up 81 Down 7
Lost in the Yukon on Sep 2, 2015 at 2:43 pm
No slack for Ryan BnR ... last time he ran on a promise to represent the wishes of Yukoners and he was loud and very vocal calling out Larry on the Long Gun Registry. In the past 4 years he has yet to fulfill that promise ... he didn't fight for lost Parks jobs, he did not fight for local Tax Office, he did not fight against C-6 or C-51 and the list goes on ... he has been an utter failure.
Up 40 Down 22
June Jackson on Sep 2, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Nothing he says or does would get him re-elected so coming here is really just another waste of taxpayer money. The Paz government is in the sewer as well, so I can't think of any announcement..oh maybe it's something like.. "The Conservative Government is pleased to announce that effective immediately we will be cutting the Canada Pension Plan in half to accommodate the extra expenses incurred by the TFW program and to set up a fraking information booth on how beneficial it will be to frack the Peel."
That's guaranteed to get some response.
Up 44 Down 23
Werner Rhein on Sep 2, 2015 at 12:39 pm
What is wrong with a leader who has to hide? Do these guys know what they have done wrong? Are these guys scared to face the people they have hurt?
Again the only thing they can do is trample Democracy.
But October 20. 2015 is coming.
Up 42 Down 20
James Wrent on Sep 2, 2015 at 10:56 am
Must be a vulnerable riding and Harpo is anxious.
Up 46 Down 40
BnR on Sep 1, 2015 at 4:48 pm
Thomas Brewer
Won't argue with you re. Harper, but cut Ryan some slack. Yeah, he's been tied to Harper, but that's the way it works, you vote the way you are told. He's not a buffoon, and although I won't be voting for him, I don't have any animosity towards him. Politics is an ugly game.
Up 76 Down 62
Thomas Brewer on Sep 1, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Can't wait until this pair of buffoons are looking for work on October 20th....
Worst.PM.Ever.
Worst.MP.Ever.