Campbell caught red-handed

Bird was the word around Victoria last weekend when Prime Minister Stephen Harper pointed out a design flaw in a pair of red Olympic 2010 mittens.

Harper was on the Island for the beginning of the Vancouver 2010 torch relay. After providing heartwarming sound bites about the strength of the Olympic spirit, he hopped on over to the B.C. premier’s office to model some 2010 swag for the press. With the PM in a Conservative blue 2010 scarf, and Gordon Campbell in a red and white Canada scarf and matching red mittens, the two gave the camera a thumbs up. But Harper, apparently, had another gesture in mind.

“You can’t put anything up but the thumb,” said Harper with a chuckle. “He can’t even give you the finger in those things.”

The comment undoubtedly turned some faces in the room as red as the premier’s inconvenient hand warmers. Campbell himself was reportedly caught off guard, stating that he’d “never experienced that.”

Harper should have known better. This is the birthplace of the infamous Salmon Arm salute, where, in 1982, protesting British Columbians fed up with feds received, in person, a single-fingered rebuttal from then prime minister, the late Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Folks here may interpret Harper’s flippancy as similar display of arrogance. On the other hand, Harper deserves some credit for this refreshingly candid moment.

No doubt Campbell would never joke about, or even consider flipping the bird to British Columbians. He is a leader who, for the greater good of the province, has brought in funding cuts to seniors care, school districts, parent advisory councils, arts and sports organizations, etc., all the while flogging, in the midst of an economic downturn, a new tax system that will transfer the burden of taxation from businesses to consumers, and a Games that will leave the province in substantial debt.

Campbell has no need for the bird. He knows actions speak louder than hand gestures.

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