Updated: Thu Jul. 09 2009 17:25:17

CTV.ca News Staff

It appears Canada's prime minister doesn't like having his photo taken.

In L'Aquila, Italy on Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was late to arrive at a G8 summit photo shoot, leaving his world leader colleagues standing around while they waited for him to show up.

Other dignitaries started calling out the prime minister's name, when it was apparent that Harper was not at the Thursday shoot.

Harper was then seen rushing to the shoot with his entourage, arriving about two minutes after U.S. President Barack Obama had jogged in late to the same shoot.

When the prime minister arrived, he got cheers from the dignitaries who had been waiting for him for about a minute and 40 seconds.

In the end, Harper was able to make the shoot, unlike Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who pulled up on a golf cart after the photo op was over.

Harper's spokesperson, Dimitri Soudas, declined to give details on why the prime minister arrived late to the photo shoot.

"I don't think you're paying attention to the summit ... The prime minister was at the photo op," Soudas said Thursday.

Harper's gaffe follows another photo foul-up that took place in April, at the G20 meeting in London.

On that occasion, Harper missed the photo shoot entirely, causing it to be restaged an hour later.

Officially, Harper said he was "detained in some consultations with officials," though it was rumoured he was in the bathroom at the time of the April shoot. (The prime minister denied that this was the case.)

"I've been in enough of these to know there's always another photo op," Harper joked at a London news conference on April 2.

The incident in Italy came only days after Harper was accused of making another social faux-pas, at the Catholic memorial service for former governor general Romeo LeBlanc in Memramcook, N.B., last week.

The prime minister was accused of taking a communion wafer at the service and not consuming it.

Soudas, however, has said the prime minister "immediately" swallowed the wafer, after taking it at the service.

While in Italy, the prime minister is scheduled to meet with Pope Benedict on Saturday.

With a report from CTV's Roger Smith

Comments are now closed for this story

Margaret
Can't he get a copy of Emily Post?

jay
guppies
It could be very possible he was doing his job. Just because he was late does not mean he was not working.

Brian t
Give me a break CTV. What's your problem. Oh wait I think I can guess!

GP, Ottawa
Who cares! Report on some real news

The Odd One Out.
Unlike the other Leaders at the G8 summit in Italy, Harper is "Only Visiting"

Rod - Gander, NF
New Reader Survey

Thumps UP if CTV News is petty

Thumps donw if some should be blamed for harper being late

Fred - Brandon MB
Honestly, one minute and forty seconds late, and a communion wafer?

What a bunch of niggling and nit-picking.

Just trying to create controversy and scandal where none exists.

Let's talk about the hypocrisy of the Liberals complaining that the Conservatives haven't done enough on global warming. They've done more in 3 1/2 years than the Liberals in their entire existence!

Rob
I wish I was as perfect as some of the people who wrote these comments. Give the guy a break ! And how many of you are late for work, make up your own hours, call in sick more than you should ! So easy to complain about other people.

Dustin
If you aint 1st, your last.

mapgirl
This is news??? Big deal.

Don
Stephen Harper was likely late because he was meeting with someone on how to fix the world's economy which he should be. The other world leader's are seem more concerned about their hair and a photo-op. No wonder we're in the mess we are. Keep up the good work, Mr. Prime Minister.

S Thomas
Who really cares, so much more to worry about int his world...

Cara
How embarassing that other countries look at our news coverage and think that being less than 2 minutes late or not eating a wafer is of such great importance to Canadians. While the media is busy try to make the PM look bad with these silly reports they are in fact making Canadians appear petty, immature and small minded to the rest of the world.

BMM
Like the communion story this is another idiotic story and an example of a left wing media so desperate to find something negative about in order to smear the PM that they have completely lost their objectivity. In the end all that they can come up with is this garbage. never mind that the PM just pledged $600M to feed starving people and agreed to a significant climate change plan. These are obviously not stories worth telling. Being 1 minute and 40 seconds "late" for a photo and not eating a communion cookie fast enough is far more news worthy. What a load of crap put out by a bunch of tablod journalsists.

The Odd One Out.
Unlike the other leaders at the G8 summit in Italy, Harper is "Only Visiting".

John in Calgary
All you posters attacking Harper yet again, obviously didn't read the article. At least he showed up albeit a little late just like Obama. Unlike Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak who missed the event altogether only to show up on a golf cart after the fact.

Richard L. Provencher
Isn't it amazing how the CTV media is so interested in tabloid style material? Shameful. In the midst of this crucial gathering where our PM encourages other nations to go slow on putting their countries into further stimulus debt and the fact Canada is doing fairly well to deal with this global crisis, one reporter feels this photo silliness is even worth reporting. Only in Canada, eh?

ps. Perhaps our PM was speaking with the American President about removing impediments to the cross-border dilemma taking place between or two countries, or perhaps he was seeking more markets for isotopes. I'm really glad we have Mr. Harper as our PM.

Pat in Ottawa
Awesome, so now we have North Korea that want to blow us up AND Harper late for a photo shoot. funny they both have one story each today.

I meet with Harper every month or so, the guy is great, good personality, always has a joke to say...cool guy, talk hockey with him... Now that will guarantee a 3 hours argument LOL

John
I completed agree with Alysha from Ont.
And why is the 'god like figure of Obama' not mentioned as being late... just another eason I rarely watch this TV station. Alysha Ont
I think it is truly disgraceful to see Canadians mocking our PM over a stupid article that only some stupid news reporter decided to print and try to shame our PM.THis is disgusting! I don't hear anyone degrading Obama and he was even later than Harper ! The people should get a life and the media should get back to reporting news and not waste time and money trying to embarass our PM. Harper is doing a fine job for our country and if any of you are ashamed of him like you say, then pack up and move to another country where the Leader can be late but yet not embarass his people !

SpinMeNot
I can't believe anyone thinks this is worth discussing. It certainly wouldn't be noticed if it had been a Liberal PM. It's amazing how low the Liberal/Toronto/CTV axis of evil will stoop to.

Dilys
What an embarrassment he is. Adjusting his make up???? Or does he really think he needs more negative press?

WSV
What ever happened to being fashionably late? If anything, he already established a precedent at the G20 meeting so this was a non-issue.

Hindusan
I understand fussing about him missing the photo op at the G20, but this time he was less than 2 minutes late. He came at almost the same time Obama did. At school, I don't get punished for coming just 2 minutes late. Im not a conservative, and I hate Stephen Harper but I am shocked the media is sticking to these non news stories.

guppies
Late for a min or 2. Don't sound big deal.

But for a G8 world class meeting (Is it ?) and Harper our PM representing Canada. Did it twice is a No No. Sound more like no respect to other.
If he representing himself is fine. But if he respesenting Canada and we paying for it is not very good.

Can you image a F1 car race and you are 1 min and 40 sec behind...Weeeeeeeeeee see you brother.

p.s I never late to feed my fishes. If not they all give me a ugly look. And I am glad my fishes have no fingers...lol

IMM - Fredericton, NB
I can't beleive the media has nothing better to report on about our WORLD,that such a thing as the wafer incident would make head line news, to me they should all Priests included have a little more respect for the greiving family of Romeo LeBlanc. And being late for a photo shoot, like one writer said you would think it was hours. If that is all the news to report on there must be too many journalist searching for some news to report.

the old lady
1min.and 40 sec late my God shoot the guy. Gimme a break. The whole world is in trouble financialy and the big news story Harper 1.40 mins late. How about telling us how Canada govened by the PM who was 1.40 mins. late is doing better than any other Country in the world.
Media can't do that because the Liberals might not like it.

D Baker
The mainstream media at times is so out of touch with what is actually "news" that I am glad that people have a lot more choice where they can get actual "news".

This morning on CBC I heard that Bernie Madoff won't be appealing his conviction. CBC thought this was actual news. Why?! There's no news here. Everybody knows that Madoff is going to prison for the rest of his life. Even if he had appealed and got a reduced sentence (he certainly would never have his conviction overturned), he still would be dying in prison. Why did the CBC think there was news here???

And swine flu! Everytime the media went on and on about swine flu I turned the TV to another channel. Yes some died. However, way, way more people die from common strains of flu than this H1N1. It's like reporting on paper cuts than lacerations.

I wish the media outlets would exercise discriminating judgment as to what is actual "NEWS" and what their listeners/readers feel is important. Because some of them don't have a clue.

Allan Eizinas
Maybe he was busy still looking through his pockets for that communion wafer from the Leblanc funeral?

Paul of Toronto
"The prime minister was accused of taking a communion wafer at the service and not consuming it."

Clearly that is news worthy.

Fraser
Interesting how no person commenting on here makes any reference to the "Messiah" Obama. He too was late.....

Alysha Ont
I think it is truly disgraceful to see Canadians mocking our PM over a stupid article that only some stupid news reporter decided to print and try to shame our PM.THis is disgusting! I don't hear anyone degrading Obama and he was even later than Harper ! The people should get a life and the media should get back to reporting news and not waste time and money trying to embarass our PM. Harper is doing a fine job for our country and if any of you are ashamed of him like you say, then pack up and move to another country where the Leader can be late but yet not embarass his people !

Paul
I think that this is something that Iggy should threaten to call an election over. ;)

Robin
Whatever! I really like this guy. And, so do most of my female friends. Harper is such a "steady Eddy" -- just what Canada needs in this crazy global economic crisis. I just think he is much better than the Liberals "Crazy Professor"

GTA
Kudos to the cracker-jack, so-called professional Journalist with the stop watch. Awesome how you also regurgitated the old "non-news" about the catholic wafer and the photo re-op way back in April. As someone so aptly put it - "pointless trivia".

Dana in Ottawa
If Mr. Harper were a Liberal he would have arrived at the photo shoot on time is his decadent custom spaceship funded by 100s of millions of Canadian Tax Payer dollars and developed by individuals, corporations, and contractors in Province of Quebec who may or may not actually exist.

Franky Dude
Wafergate!

Get over it!
You guys all seriously need to get a life if you think this is news... And CTV needs to sort their stories out if they think this is top story material... couple more "news" stories like this and I'll turn to another site for my REAL news...

KL
Well at least Steave can speak without making a complete fool of himself unlike the last fella :)

Lorne
People - whether or not you like it, this is newsworthy.
Partisan politics is not even an issue.
The PM represents our country and is expected to follow protocol.
Being late for one photo-op can be forgiven - but being late a second time is inexcusable.
The other leaders have more important things to do then to wait around for someone to show up for a photo-op.
I'm sure that some of these leaders don't like to have their picture taken, but this is part and parcel of being centre stage and having the peoples of the world watching to see what progress has been made in these summits.

Vancouver Girl
Are you kidding me? Other leaders were waiting for "about a minute and 40 seconds" and he's making headline news for being late? Give me a break! CTV, sometimes you suck hard.

Sylvain New Brunswick
Not HIS fault his aide did not tell him the proper time, so lets fire his aide...

Nicola Timmerman
He's late because he is one of the few leaders actually doing any work at these conferences. The final statements are always strongly influenced by Canada.

Roadrobber
Yesterday the wafer, today late for the photo. Scandalous behaviour...for the media. Get a life people. What's up tomorrow? Harper drinks non-organic (gasp!) coffee?

JEP
This is idiotic! This is idiocy! How is this news? What just happened to our collective brains?
I feel dumber for having read this, and feel terrified for those posting in support of this article.
This is madness!

derek
Derek, On

I'm a liberal and deffinatly not a harpper fan but seriously do we need to talk about someone being a minute fourty late. to anyone saying bad things about him because of this get over it. (there is so much more to choose from that matter)

Matt C
I don't approve of Harper and I don't vote Conservative.... but really is this news?

Jeez give people some real reporting, not just filler junk.

M M B Ont
Judging by the news the media is writing on our PM Harper, it tells me that he is a very popular PM and has to be so well liked especially by the media that all eyes are on him no matter what he does or where he goes. He was the focus of the media's attention receiving communion at a funeral and now because he was 1 min and 40 seconds late for a photo shoot, again the media had their eyes on Mr Harper only. So as Canadians, we should be very proud to have such a popular and well liked and admired PM that he makes headlines no matter where he is or whatever he does.!! We owe the reporting media loads of thanks for keeping us abreast of the actions of our Prime Minister Mr. Harper. A job well done media!

Trudy
Probably needed a minute to use his tiny little key to wind his tiny little brain.

Angela
I agree with George in Calgary, I guess some people have too much time on their hands...

Mr Harper you are doing great. We appreciate your work.
Keep it up PM.
Thank you!

zwinky
Holy slow news day Batman get a life you media clowns!

first communion wafers and now photo ops!!!

please spare me!!!

and to the rest of you who even BOTHER to argue or discuss this nonsensical trivia - whether you support Harper as P.M. or not ANYONE's watch can be wrong by less than 2 minutes!!!

give me a freakin' break and let's have a serious discussion about something that's actually newsworthy!

Gunner
I keep reading in a lot of the comments that the PM is not aware of certain protocols or his staff is not keeping him update, on time or on schedules at these summits.

If your such an expert on all these protocols and you can do a better job of keeping the PM on schedule, why don't you just apply for the job on his staff and look after it yourselves. If not shut up and give it a rest. Trust me not everything that is planned down to the last second always happens on time.

bunny
A minute and 48 seconds is late.BTW Obama was also late, I think those two were having some private time.

jay
Steve in Manotick
So i guess obama is doing the same damage to the states.

The Other Lowell in BC
what is it with Harper and bathrooms. Isn't this the second photo op that he was late for because he was in the loo. Is this a management problem.

Keith H.
I am not particularly fond of Stephen Harper, but I am more fed up with our 24 hour a day media circus, that will desperately gobble up any trivial detail it 'uncovers!' Some solid news coverage would be a breath of fresh air!

M. Cameron
Thanks Stephen! You're doing a fine job representing Canada on the international stage /sarcasm

daryn
omg... we are more worried about a little faux pas then the fact the G8 did NOTHING to combat climate change. If our governmnets do not care... Why should we?

I have no kids, people with children don't even care if their children/grandchildren have a planet.

It's a good thing the world is going to end Dec 21 2012.

guppies
If I am late for a job interview.
Don't you think I will get the job.

How can we trust our PM to work for us and do a good job. And even he don't know what time it is.

Steve in Manotick
Just another example of his mismanagement.. What a joke he is making of us good people of Canada

geebee
Give it a rest people. The head of the host country is mired in sex scandals and you flip out over THIS. Remember the buckskin clad guy that did a pirouette then later in a chequered career, gave the media the Salmon Arm Salute.
Take a Valium.

Winnie Halifax N.S.
Harpers doing a great job please report(front page news please) on the good things him and his MP's have done in three yrs.

No matter what he does he can't win, its a shame because I think he is a GREAT Prime Minister and doing a GREAT job under the circumstances.

Kris D.
He was probably too busy previewing a new attack ad that alienates another segment of our society.

pdm
such an embarassment - it doesn't matter whether it's 10 seconds late or 5 minutes - you arrive early, or at least on time, these are world leaders for heavens sake!

Bill in BC
Seems the Liberal's have to focus on nonsense since the PM is doing a good job on the "real" stuff.
Keep it up Harper!

Jay-TO
"Obama jogged in"

And Harper probably had his butt chauffeured (in a SUV) after going to Mickie D's.

Almost late again. C'mon Harper our taxpayers dollars are paying for your photo-op. You can at least show up. That'll be the only think you accomplish there.

Pat
Again this prime minister shows no respect to his peers. We are talking about a man who prefer to give interview to the Fox Network instead of Canadian Networks. Someone who seems to be considering his citizens as nuisance. Why do we have a spoiled brat as prime minister again?

Dave H.
Maybe he was actually conducting some government business. Ever think of that? It seems that some people remember the Chretien and Martin years of only attending for the photo sessions in the first place. If newspaper owners are wondering why they aren't selling as many papers as before, maybe covering non-stories such as this is the reason.

M. Btok
Stephen is always late for photo shoots at the G20 he was in the washroom! Don't know who we can trust in these days with the NWO English Crime syndicate around Re:Is Michael Ignatieff who has spent 30 years in USA and Britain and now attempting to get voted in Canadian politics to the highest seat as Prime Minister! Is he a Bilderberger? Is his politics similar to the Marxist,President of the United States? I am concerned as he does not have a platform,obviously he has a hidden agenda, he has said he has a carbon tax for us! Is it like the lethal "Cap and Trade" Bill passed in America that takes away most of the American citizen's constitutional rights! With these Elitists under the NWO agenda Barack Obama is the closer President to end the Republic of the United States! Is Michael Ignatieff the NWO Elitist's infiltrated Closer with a hidden agenda to be the closer of Democracy for Canada? Anyone that has details or knowledge on Ignatieff's politics please answer this comment, Thank you! It seems everything that we hold dear and our freedoms are being put down in these treacherous times!

Mexico Ex-Pat
SCANDAL SCANDAL SCANDAL~!

If this was a Liberal PM, the Con's would be all over this like fleas on a dog, VIS VERSA.

Regardless, who the #$%@ cares...? It's a photo shoot. Then again, it could subtly reflect our "beloved PM's" interest in world affairs. Becha he wasn't late for the photo op's at the "Animal Abuse Stampede"~!

Jason in Edmonton
While I'm not convinced that Harper doesn't do this just for the attention...who are his handlers? It is the responsibility of those people to make sure that he is on time (yes at that level 1 minute is a big deal). He really needs to pay more attention to the people he hires around him, first they don't brief him on the etiquette of a Catholic Funeral and then they don't get him to a G8 event on time...where does he get these clowns?

Humpty Dumpty from Ottawa
"This would make a good Cialis comercial"

Laureen is going to love that comment! LOL Too funny

"PM HARPER SCREWED UP AGAIN" brought to you by Cialis and the Liberal spin doctors!

Art in Alberta
This guy is a joke!

Who are you to keep world leaders waiting for you?!

It's not like this is the first time. If I were a world leader, Harper is one person I would do what I could to avoid, simply based on ego.

Why is he representing our country?!

Melissa
Who cares? It's a photo op.

Laura Langstaff
Stephen, Stephen, Stephen, when the big hand is on the 11, and the little hand is on the twelve, it's almost time for you and Johnny to eat again. Now practise synchronizing your timing, and thank Gawd nobody trusts you to push any buttons

Winnie Halifax N.S.
Guess my previous comment wasn't worth putting on net, guess what I said about what happened in house of Commoms before the break was not worth printing as it wasn't a Conservative who spoke with foul lauguage about the health minister. Obama was late , the Italian minister didn't show up and Harper was late, bet it wasn't all over the news about them in their newspapers, only Harper here in Canada, what a biased bunch you are. Print the good news we readers should be reading and stop trying to make a scandal out of nothing Romeo Lablancs funeral, photo ops, etc, we Canadians are not stupid we can judge for ourselves withoug being brainwashed. And when the oppsition has to go back 18 and 20 yrs. to find scandal it only proves they can't find any on Harper, that should be in the news. He's doing a good job but not getting the credit he deserves for it and I used to be a Liberal all my life until about14 yrs ago.

Please let me have my say as it is a free Country, Thank You

Jeff S.
This is just stupid and un-newsworthy.

The media is becoming increasingly superficial when stories like this make the headlines. And CTV is leading the pack it seems.

brad
This is not news. Can you please find something real to report?

Lloyd
CTV get with the program and quite posting articles that create little or no interest to anyone.....You are showing your true colours by doing this type of reporting.

BGD
One: the PM needs to keep his eye on the clock better.

Two: Some should buy his handlers some new Timex watches. The Rolexes are not working.

Three: Now we need to teach them all how to tell time without adding a half hour to everything.

guppies
Send him an alarm clock. Wonder what he is doing at nite.

Bonnie
Maybe the others in the photo op were early??

Andrew in St. Catharines, ON
QUOTE: "...these leaders are on a time schedule and expected to follow it!"

Let he who has never been late throw the first stone.

Writing news for being late by 1m40s is a waste of all of our time. It is also sad that this article seems to be an intent to slander a person for something so minor.

Marius
...Page said the $46 billion the federal government has committed to stimulate the economy won't do much more than "soften" the recession's impact on jobs, incomes and output...Hummm, very interesting !!!!
" Taking the State wherever found, striking into its history at any point, one sees no way to differentiate the activities of its founders, administrators, and beneficiaries from those of a professional-criminal class"
Albert Jay Nock, Our Enemy The State

Ian in Mississauga
Most politicians are in love with the camera. Harper could be a bit like myself, I hate the camera. About eating the communion wafer. Catholics as I understand, believe the wine and bread become the literal body and blood of Christ at communion. Most prodestants, myself included, believe the wine and wafer are symbols of Christs sacrifice for us. I didn't see Harper eat the wafer but taking it from the priest was a respectful gesture
============================
If it had been a Fox News cameraman he'd have been there 5 mins early. This PM is an embarressment to Canada. He is the junior member really (Obama excused) and should have shown respect and been the first one there and I don't buy his excuse he was in conference unless it was with his highly paid hairdresser/makeup lady

Tamouh
must be a slow news day...

p.s. like the cialis comment!

Bonnie
I agree with Dr. Phil's opinion of people who are always late. "They are just plain arrogant"
By mistake, they would arrive early sometime.
Everybody else followed the itinerary.
But I would laugh when he is telling his grandchildren, "it's true, I was there"! Hahaha What a joke!

Vancouver Island Guy
Stephen Harper just doesn't understand protocol and consideration for others.

Maybe I should give the PM some slack; maybe he did eat the communion "host" and it didn't agree with him, so he was late AGAIN for the photo op!

It is quite ironic really because Harper's life is all about photo ops.

northern gal
Maybe he had to go to the bathroom again. Perhaps it's time to go see a doctor.

kg1
maybe he just likes making an entrance

Keith in Brampton
He was busy trying to find a safe place to stash the wafer. LOL!!!

Does he need a WATCH or A HEARING AID
He must be thinking that he is a true VIP!

Holding up production should be a bad thing, right?

Wonder what it will feel like IF SOMEONE IS DOING BACK TO HIM TWOICE??

Brian in Winnipeg
Being late sends a message about the importance of something to a person.

Thats why we should be concerned. If SH wanted to be on time, especially after gaffing the first time, he would have been there.

Remember all of you chirping in support of him - this is the WORLD stage, not a dinner date. I am disappointed with the man representing us.

opinion
You conservatives are missing the entire point as usual.
As a Prime Minister of a country you MUST update yourself on protocol as it relates to Country or Religion as in many cases you can greatly offend or insult your host.
As Prime Minister of Canada he is not doing well in public, less learned, less class. Its time to act like your position requires or get out.
SIMPLE

MARG MM
BREAKING NEWS!!!!

PM Stephen Harper sneezes without covering his mouth!!!

What should we do??? Run for the hills everyone.

Once again the news media making a big deal out of nothing, just to discredit the PM.
Had it been a Liberal, it wouldn't even have been newsworthy.

If the PM had shown up early, would that have made the news? I think not.

Pm Harper: damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. As to the wafer incident, if he hadn't accepted it, that would have also been news.

I guess we must be very fortunate in Canada, the only newsworthy items are "nit picky" ones against a PM who has finally accomplished some good things for us all.

noel
BIG DEAL IF YOU READ WHAT IT SAID MANY WERE LATE,ONE PULLED UP IN A GOLF CART ONE DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP.A MINUTE AND 40 SECONDS SO WHAT,DID THE WORLD END?

Leftcoaster
@George in Calgary

I realize he's your guy, but keeping the leaders of other nations waiting is poor behavior.

Do you honestly think these people have "nothing better to do"?

I'm sure they'd prefer to get back to their own country's business in between meetings, not wait for tardy Yankees and Canucks...

I don't think any of them are fans of the photo ops, but apparently it's necessary for them to be seen "looking" like they are doing something...

CrackerJackLee
Darlene, great idea! i think our guy Stevie should have a golf cart to get around on. after all he represents Canadian aspirations, and my aspiration is to ride around on a golf cart! one with a little canuck flag on an aerial. one of those 1950's scooters would be better! Let's Go!

James
It's stupid this is even news. Who cares if he was late to the photo op!

Jason Daniel Baker, Toronto
So Harper was meeting with Obama and Mubarak on a subject which caused them to lose track of the time? I wonder what that could mean.

The Guppy
So Harper was late at least he showed up for the photo op not like Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who pulled up in a golf cart after it was all over. Wonder what he was doing?

Dunny from Manotick
Roger Smith reported that the PM sheepishly made his way to his spot for the photo. Sheepishly? Look again Roger, he was smiling as his G8 buddies gave him a bit of a hard time in jest.

Eyes Rolling on the Westcoast...
Well at least this time he didn't embarrass the nation - again!

Good job showing up for the photo op... Here, have a milkbone...

Rob in Ottawa
This non-story warrants:

1. A front-page headline
2. A Roger Smith report
3. A poll on the front-page

WOW. What would happen if a PM actually throttled someone. Oh wait...

CrackerJackLee
Canadians! too polite. just to make Barry feel comfortable, Stevie shows up late on purpose, eh?

Johnny (Montreal)
I think he did it for attention. He showed up late so he can show off. This kind of attention, for those with a good sense of humour puts Canada in the spotlight. Similar to that saying "no publicity is bad publicity". Afterall, Canadian Banks own the US banks these days. I don't blame our beloved Prime Minister for being the last one there after President Obama.

Gord. Robson, Nova Scotia
One minute and 40 seconds late for a photo to be taken!
My gosh I believe this is breaking news!

Our Prime Minister is doing
such a good job that being
one minute 40 seconds late for a photo is world news!

Ex IBMer
George is right it must be a slow day when this is the only Canadian news...now that "The Gloved One"'s fiasco is over there is little earth shattering to report.

447? Anyone? Bueler?

Alex (Toronto)
In other countries, the volume of issues that leaders have to deal with is so great that staff schedule time closely to maximize both time for considering issues and time for the leader to interact with others. But Harper chose to demonstrate the ineptness of a staff chosen for loyalty rather than competence. Given the small amount of time world leaders have to spend together in a group, a minute is a very long time for them to be only talking and thinking about the Canadian government's disorganization and disrespect for other countries.

RHarris
Slacker!

Gordon Korman
This article has wasted a minute and 40 seconds of my life.

Patriot
Save the best for last too the picture. That is Canada we are number one now. I love it.

George
Okay, last comment on this. You actually are missing the point. The G8 is complicated event with different things going on, and all actually having to be planned down to minute in order to squeeze everything in. These guys have private meetings with various leaders, as well as other commitments. They aren't just sitting around the big table deciding our fates like in the 'Starchamber'. That is why they have the planners and assistants to keep them on schedule. It's not easy either.

opinion
This guy thinks the world should wait for him. He could not even leave his arrogance at home for us Canadians, he took it with him to an International function.
Shame Stevie

MARG MM
Looks like the media are desperate for news. I guess, since they can't dig up any scandals on the PM (unlike his Liberal predecessors) they have to grasp at anything they can find, even trying to make an issue over whether he actually swallowed a wafer or not.

PeterS
One minute and forty seconds!! And, this warrants "front-page" coverage by CTV...give me a break, and some "NEWS"!

jay
So all those bashing harper i hope you aslo bash obama.

Harper an embarrassment for Canada on world stage
a danger to Canada when he's back in this country.

The buffoon has got to go.

Tom Hawley
To all who say it is only 1 min 40 secs late is not the issue.
Our leader was LATE again.
To me it is not a lot of time but perhaps to the other world leaders with tight schedules it does make a difference.
Some people will take the attention whether it is positive or negative as long as he/she is getting the attention.
Mr.Harper seems to relish in the negative.
News worthy perhaps not but does show the look at me mentality that Mr.Harper displays.

Your kidding!!!
Don't you have anything better to report!

Darlene, NS
To the people who are "embarrassed" by our Prime Minister because he came in 1 minute and 40 seconds behind Obama for a photo shoot - you really do need to get a life. Talk about oversensitive! Would you rather he was the one came afterwards, in the golf cart?

THE Fatman
For Christmas sake......give the guy credit for being consistent will ya!

wayne friske
This would make a good Cialis comercial

Evan Miles in Winnipeg
For all those out there bashing Mr. Harper on his politics and ideas, I have yet to hear one thing that your parties would do differently.

Think you have the answers and can save Canada from all the troubles of the world, tell me and I will vote you in to be our next leader.

Until you can do that, SHUT UP and get to work to help make this country better.

HARPER YOU ARE THE MAN, and in the next election whenever the liberals decide to have it YOU will win.

Steve
The Master of Ceremonies at these conferences really must be instructed to tell the leaders present when it is potty time.

Marc
Photo foul-up - Part 2

This is embarrassing for the PMO office. His photographer and whoever is managing that department are the one who should be blame for that. Isn't their job and responsibility to make sure that the Prime Minister is on time???? He should fire them and surround himself with experienced people.

Good job PMO photographer! I'm an experienced photographer I will take your job.....

Bill - Kitchener
The big deal here isn't that our minority leader was 1min 40sec late but rather he didn't have the mental capacity to arrive at least 15min early. If he were to be interviewed for a job and arrived late, it would be held against him, that is, if he were given the interview at all.

LH in Calgary
Apparently patience is not a virtue.
One minute and 40 seconds. Is it really that long of a wait?
Security at the airport takes so much longer.
This is a ridiculous news article. Please report on events that are more important.

Gunner
Canada Goose Whistler:

Only asked you to back up what you wrote. I can see by your last comment the level of maturity. So because I see fit to support whatever party I chose too, I'm uneducated and ill informed. What If I were a liberal supporter who missed the story and was looking for further information to support you?

James from Vancouver
It's not professional. Anyone of his level in public or private enterprise needs to be timely and not keep everyone else late. It makes it look like Canada just doesn't care all that much. And humbug to posters that think this is a CPC vs LPC issue. ANY leader that behaved in this way should definitely be criticized. **enter Dion** =)

IJ
Is this really news if he "almost" missed the photo op? They don't give out Nobel Prizes for Almost Physics....

K in Halifax
Some people don't seem to understand- making other world leaders wait for you is disrespectful! These leaders are all dealing with high level issues and if they can make time for a photo op, then our Prime Minister should have the decency to be on time so everyone can get back to business quickly.

Jean-Marc Boivin
... and when EXACTLY did the chronometer start to determine when the photo op was supposed to take place? I find it hard to believe that these meetings are scheduled to the second. In fact, I don't believe it at all.
As many have commented below, if that is the complaint of the day - keep going Mr. PM you can't be doing too badly.

Pat in Victoria
This is a non-story. Chretien raised the bar pretty high on newsworthy prime ministerial shenanigans with his 1996 choke-hold.

Ken in WPG
Was Harper late or was everyone else early? Actually folks, Mubarak was late, Harper was on time!

Dani - Red Deer
I wish I could say that I am shocked that this is news, but with the state of our media these days nothing shocks me.

Heaven forbid not everyone arrive for the photo at the same time. Maybe next time they should all get together and set syncronize their watches. Obviously it speaks to the respect the world leaders have for Stephen Harper. They didn't wait for the Egyptian president, did they?

George
I think you are missing the point on this one. I am an Executive Assistant. Before events like like are staged, you are given an itinerary of what is planned, when it is planned and where. It is then up to the PMO to ensure that he is on time or early for any of these. Granted he was only about 2 minutes late, but the PMOs onsite assistant has blanket authority to interrupt and remind the man of his commitments at this event. He may be the Prime Minister, but he represents us.

KRB
I second prairieboy … if this is what consumes the media attention of Harper, then things must be pretty good. But we’re petty like that sometimes.

Richard in Ontario
As usual the Liberal/NDP posters work hard to make nonsense like this into something of a big deal. I would like to ask anyone that posted a negative remark about the PM if they in fact watched the video with Stephen Harper arriving for the shoot. Contrary to what is said about him rushing in, it shows him walking slowly on stage as the rest of the participants seemed to be trying to decide how to line up. One minute and forty seconds, come on folks, it isn't like an entire theater performance was being held up. Beside Mr Obama arrived after Harper so apparently he was the one holding up the procedure. The left wing media have been working overtime the last couple of days to disparage the PM but this story and the one about the wafer are both evidence that news is very slow these days. Somewhere near the bottom of the barrel.

Gary
This is news?, who really cares maybe he was in the washroom, maybe he spilled something on his suit. Why is this even been covered.

Paul in Saskatoon
I'm shocked ... stunned. Now my entire day will be ruined and I'll have to reconsider who to vote for next election ... forget Iran, the economy, Honduras ... or even MJ ... Harper was a minute late for a photo op and now the world may end.

Island Man
Maybe he should have wolfed a smaller donut to stay on schedule. His suit looks two sizes too small. Tubby at the trough seems to constantly embarrass Canada on the world stage.

Anti-Harper Mob Doesn't Need Logic
First of all, complaining about being late 1 minute 40 seconds is absurd. Shame on the media for even reporting this story. This story is just further evidence of a liberal biased ctv, trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. SCANDAL, SCANDAL the PM is a minute late for a meeting!

Look at all the negative replies to comments/thumbs down on this thread. It looks like the fiberals are at it again and will place negative comments to try to smear PM Harper at any chance they get.

Not a leader
He is not a Leader! Simple as that.

Sean
It's a fact of life...someone will arrive first and someone will arrive last....WHO CARES....How about reporting on something that actually has signifince to our country.

Chris D.
He obviously arrives late to leave the best country for last.

Goldens
Wow! Give me a break! Give the PM a break! What Liberal wrote this article anyway? Did Iggy write this article, reads like something he would write.

John W
Bridgetown

Canada Goose Whistler
Gunner:

Sorry I don't have time to find this for you.
The stats I talked about were on CTV not too long ago.
Write CTV, look in CTV's archives, or google it.
Then you will be educated to the facts. Then you can share it with other uneducated, ill informed conservatives.

LDL in ONT
Why does "Today's Question" only have two choices on "Who's to blame" ?(interesting that you feel this is blame worthy)
The PM or His staff. Where's my third option....Who cares.
This story is "wafer" thin!

PD Brown
Why on Earth make such an issue of the PM being "late" for a photo-op- ? Ctv makes sure to repeat this issue every time it has occurred, well, who cares? So maybe he has to go to a bathroom, make another phone call, try to break away from a chat with someone - many reasons; look at the Egyptian Pres. coming late in a golf-cart, Pres. Obama running-in late -maybe the only ones on time either have little to do or desperately want to make sure their photo gets taken for their own political reasons.
Any, give it up, CTV - you're not winning any points not being more professionally objective-
PD Brown
Ottawa

5th Generation Canadian
Being late for two photo ops is the least of Harper's/Canada's faux paux in the past few years.......

James the tax payer
This is incredible. Late for a picture. Wasn't seen eating the wafer.

What a scandalous PM.

Bring back Chretien. At least when the libs stole $40 million of our money it wasn't as big a deal.

jpf
I've never been a fan of harper (or any other canadian politician in the last few years), but kudos to the PM's office for arranging these little events for us to chuckle about and think fondly of our slightly goofy prime minister. The conservatives truly are the masters of political strategy (u know except that little incident las november). Also a kudos to the spokesperson that tried to their jeda mind trick on the press. Never hurts to try.

Ann
Total disregard for proper protocol at a funeral and people's religious beliefs, embarassing the country on the international scene, how soon can we have an election and give him his pink slip? What an embarassement he is.

Remarkable
Well, maybe Harper doesnt think that photo shoots are as important as the economy. Or, maybe he was back in the bathroom, in some form of high level consultations regarding the state of the economy, in stall number 3. I wonder if the minutes of the meeting was written on toilet paper.

Peter - Toronto, ON
OMG! He didn't eat the communion wafer! Is it like he spit in the church or something? Pehaps 500 years ago he would have been stoned to death, but not nowadays... I mean, seriously, he just didn't eat the wafer, and there is nothing more to it. I think even the catholics couldn't care less. After all, religion is not about rituals, but about faith.

Pip
Having read all the posts, and trying to digest their meaning, I finally realized what it was all about: Mr. Harper is reluctant to have his photo taken because, like some Polynesian groups of the early 20th century, he believes the camera takes away part of his soul. Such a pity that being a politician takes even more. One must applaud him for trying to retain at least a little of his soul [the sound of one hand clapping].

Other than that, I concur with those whose analysis is "slow news day".

canadian in calgary
For all of you claiming that this is not news and that it doesn't matter, YOU all obviously read the article--why bother reading it if it isn't news?? That is why CTV and others keep writing these stories-you and many others are in fact reading them.

Diane M.
Is this the best the media can do to discredit the Prime Minister- wafers and photo-ops?

dawn
harper is a buffoon....and he didn't eat that wafer i saw the youtube...so wish harpers aides would quit lying..

Niagara George
I'll bet he wouldn't be late if the meeting was in Canada. Abroad the man is an attention seeker. He knows the G8 members didn't listen to anything he suggested as far policies. He figures if they joke about his tardiness, he's still part of the club.

We all remember that kind of goofball kid in school.

June Smith North Bay
Give me a break...
the average Canadian citizen has so many stressful things to worry about these days: being late for a photo shoot? I couldn't care less.

Rick
WHAT A NON-STORY.

And some people still believe there's no liberal bias in the media.

The left-wing will do anything to make the PM look bad. This is very apparent to Canadians and will only increase support for the Conservatives.

This is not news reporting; it is pure politics. The media just can not except that Harper is doing an great job and is supported by more Canadians than the Liberals.

They look like sore loosers to me.

S. Sultana
I guess Prime minister is too shy to have a group photo, so he tries to escape it but cannot

Danno RB
I couldn't care less if they took a group photo, let alone if anyone was late, missing or had their eyes closed in the shot. Did they make progress solving the financial crisis, climate change, poverty, or anything else that actually matters to the world?

Peter
I know a number of men who come late for meetings or other kind of services to draw attention to themselves.
Now I wouldn't say that our PM would do that . . . would you?

Mark
Apparently our Prime Minister made a faux pas with some wafer at a Catholic funeral recently and now he's a minute late for a photo op.

I wonder what it's like living under what appears to be a media electron microscope?

Whatever the answer, I think it looks far better than putting on a helmet backwards or doing a face-plant riding a skateboard a la Jean Chretien.

Keep on keeping on Mr. Harper!

Lorne
The guy obviously has a problem. His arrogance and a want for world attention.
I don't care if he was a minute or two late - these leaders are on a time schedule and expected to follow it!
Get a life!

Calgary
Most politicians are in love with the camera. Harper could be a bit like myself, I hate the camera. About eating the communion wafer. Catholics as I understand, believe the wine and bread become the literal body and blood of Christ at communion. Most prodestants, myself included, believe the wine and wafer are symbols of Christs sacrifice for us. I didn't see Harper eat the wafer but taking it from the priest was a respectful gesture.

Steve the Pundit
At a minute and forty seconds late, how is this news? And how, exactly, does this reflect on "Canadian values of politeness"? Seems that those with a hate-on for the Prime Minister (including, it would seem, CTV Globemedia) are using anything at their disposal to try and diss the PM. Even though the IMF has said that Canada will come out of the recession sooner than most, and that the Harper government's policies before and after the economic meltdown must be contributing factors.

Can we start reporting and commenting on REAL issues, instead of speculating on our Prime Minister's digestive tract?

Gunner
Canada Goose Whistler wrote:
Harper is an embarrassment to Canada none of the other leaders believe anything he says.
Stats says only a small handful of Canadians believe what he says.
Stats Canada also says he is one of the least liked PMs in Canadian history.

Goose if your going to quote stats as least post a link so that it can be backed up or are you just making up info to make yourself feel better. As for the people on here saying the reason he was late is because he was in the bathroom again might want to read the story again. The bathroom remark is in ref to the photo shoot in April. Some people need to get a life or learn to read before making comments!

1mac
about time he cleaned house of his political staffers who have (for years) screwed up - they have attitude but very little smarts and it is NOT doing the PM any great favours ...unfortunately the PM(all of them: Cons and Lib)) are not told how their staffers behave ... some who need a good 'smack' !

MP
Oh come on Harper! Buy a watch! Do you not have an assistant shadowing you at these things?

Harper's a buffoon
Harper has MAJOR issues and this is one manifestation of it. People who are chronically late are actually showing hostility. Harper is just being himself: petulant, boorish, rude and disrespectful. The other leaders are laughing at him, and so are most Canadians. Can't wait for the election.

Shannon the Newf-Bowmanville
The reason why Harper keeps getting it wrong, is that it is a photograph of LEADERS, Harper is NO leader and NEVER will be... What an embarassment to Canada, and my native land of Newfoundland, where men are men, so are the women, and the sheep are nervous!!

Anne
Somewhat trivial, but then again, it happened before. And then the question of the communion wafer. I find our PM a little embarrassing where social protocols are concerned, at times the 'bull in the China shop' kind of thing. I just wish he was more polished.

Don - London
One more way our glorious leader embarrasses us on the global stage.

Fun-ny
Okay, who took their stop watch to Italy?

Steve from Listiguj
Prime Minister,

Don't sweat it, where I come from its called "Indian Time".

PM
If being one minute late to a photo-op is what it takes to get noticed in this world, so be it.

Gee
Talk about desperately trying to have something negative on our great PM.

André in Ontario
His photo ops are the same as his economic policies. Late & have no substance or value. He just keeps on embarrassing Canada at every turn. If he can't even show up at a photo shoot on time why would any other country want to deal with that type of management that can't be on time. Shameful & again embarrassing for Canada.

Bren
At least PM Harper doesnt appear to just be there for a party like Martin always did. I would like to think he is taking care of business and not really concerned about yet anopther cheesy feel good photo op like so many of the other leaders. Keep up the good job PM, at least you have your priorities straight.

FreakAlert
Maybe the food ain't sitting so well with the PM.

meerkat
This is the second time he's made everyone wait for a photo shoot. Very inconsiderate I would say. Very UN-Canadian!

But is it really news worthy? Come on Media People, there are more important stories to report.

EP from TO
Have we no REAL news to talk about? Is the fact that our PM was 1 minute and 40 seconds late really a TOP story?

Im sure there are other things more interesting...but as always, our PM is being ridiculed for nothing.

AH
Has this happened before at another event?

AK
I bet you the other leaders won't remember the people who arrived on time. Better late than never (cough cough, egypt).

Ben, Edmonton
Give him a break. You know how many phone calls he needs to take in one day to be fed all those lines? That's gotta be tough on a guy.

Samual
One of the real world leaders must have told him the worlds economy was in the toilet. He was in the bath room looking for it.
A real embarrassment to Canada.
This is real news, it show how incompetent he really is.

Joe C
I'm glad I'm not the only one who wonders why this is news-worthy.

He's 100 seconds late for a photo. Big whoop.

NEXT!

Sharyn Pridham
Stephen Harper continues to display a complete disregard and disdain for anything other than Stephen Harper. How embarrassing that he makes the news in this fashion - for the 2nd time. No matter it was only a minute and seconds, if all the others could be on time, why not him?? SP, Ottawa

Colin, from Quebec
I only agree with the Tories on a couple of issues, but it doesn't bother me that the PM was a little late for the photo op. In most other jobs, people don't get criticized just for being a couple of minutes late once in a while, unless the boss is a petty tyrant. Think of the overpaid CEOs and pro athletes who can stroll in to work whenever the heck they feel like it.

As for the Catholic service, I think the PM could have taken the wafer even if he is a Protestant. He's a Christian, after all.

Denny in SK
Sounds like Harper has trouble paying ATTENTION at home AND abroad.

Canada Goose Whistler
Harper is an embarrassment to Canada none of the other leaders believe anything he says.
Stats says only a small handful of Canadians believe what he says.
Stats Canada also says he is one of the least liked PMs in Canadian history.
With an election around the corner he will soon be out of a job.

d
Now,media people, if it was a Liberal leader we wouldn't be hearing about this. Stop picking on our P.M.. He's doing a great job and his top concern isn't trying to look good for the media, which has been the case with some recent P.M.s. Anybody want to chastize Obama for the same thing? Oh,wait, he's a Democrat, not a Republican, isn't he?

Scene
I don't mind Harper, he is doing pretty good as PM, but man c'mon your late again for this photo-op, get with it, your representing our country!

paul D.
There is no call for not being punctual, especially at a G8 summit photo shoot. It doesn't look good on him or for Canada. I can't stand it when people are LATE! It seems to be the thing to do these days.

BE PUNCTUAL PEOPLE

Peter in Kingsburg
I must agree with my fellow posters. But I must add that this really isn't news at all. This is mere filler for a web page. Read the story it is about being late for a photo op and then it launches into previously "reported" non-essential stories about a similar incident and the "wafer-gate" affair.

A one line item of no interest or value turns into a multi-paragraph regurgitation of old items of equal value.

Well I guess if this is all that can be reported then the world and this country in particular must be doing famously in this rather gloomy economic time.

Steph in WPG
One minute and 40 seconds!! They must run on a tight schedual if that is considered a big deal.

Dan from Northern Ont
I like the Egyptian leader's style! haha

Bruce
Death by a thousand media slashes. One minute and forty seconds late for a photo? My goodness, he was two minutes behind the media darling Obama! What shall we do with our Prime Minister? He's really screwing up big time now. This is CTV's big story today?

JR from Pointe Claire
The slug almost missed another photo shot...what else is new. He is proving to be a big mistake for us on the world stage. Embarassing to say the least. Aren't there drugs that will keep you from having to keep running to a bathroom? Couldn't his entourage carry around a biffy for him? Embarassing...again!!

Ed MacLeod
Harper was the last to arrive, but with a big smirk on his face. By tradition Obama/American President is supposed to be the last to arrive. But Berlusconi, Merkel and Sarkozy were laughing along with Harper arriving last. Affront to Obama? Maybe, maybe not. Fashionably late? Or just a good joke?

DV88
Is he camera shy and require a lot of coaxing or does he have a serious stomache problem?

R_P
Such a goofball.

Greg - Signs and Wonders
Say Cheese !!

Mike vdB - Chatham, ON
Wow...I am not a current government support at all, but isn't this getting a little nit-picky?

The guy is late to a photo-op, give him a break. So was Obama.

As for the Catholic fiasco, it may have been smarter to just turn down the wafer because he is Protestant. But then how many Catholics would be offended he turned it down? Then again, how many Catholics care?

George in Calgary
He's exactly 1 minute and 40 seconds late. Not 2 minutes and 32 seconds. I guess some people have too much time on their hands that an interval of time has to be measured exactly. I would dislike very much for my life to regimented taht severly. Bottom line however is that it must be a slow news day for any media outlet to report this. This is not news but merely pointless trivia.

Ben in Ottawa
A minute and forty seconds? You make it sound like it was hours. These people can be a little more patient. It would take two minutes just to walk to the other side of a big room.

prairieboy
Stephen Harper must be doing a fantastic job if being late for a picture is news. Keep it up PM. Great Job.