Harper plays cribbage in Calgary yesterday. Photo by Jeff McIntosh/ Canadian Press.
As Chief Theresa Spence enters the 14th day of her hunger strike, news reports tell us the Prime Minister is now in Calgary. A ‘photo op’ shows him playing cribbage at a seniors residence in that city. Yesterday, Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow and CEP president Dave Coles met with Chief Spence on Victoria Island near Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Barlow said, “We are calling on Prime Minister Harper to put politics aside at this time of year when people of all faiths are connecting with what is meaningful to them, and human to human, either meet with Chief Spence or set up a time to meet with her. If not, her death will be on his conscience.” To tell the Prime Minister he must meet with Chief Spence, you can e-mail him at pm@pm.gc.ca (though some are reporting bounce-backs from this address) or stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca. His telephone number in Ottawa is 613-992-4211, but given he is in Calgary you may also want to try his constituency office at 403-253-7990 (the message says the office is closed, but you can still leave a voicemail).