Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent much of the day huddled with his cabinet ministers in advance of an important Conservative caucus meeting tomorrow in Charlottetown.

Both discussions are aimed at setting priorities for the fall session of Parliament.

But it is another meeting on the horizon that prompted the prime minister to get on the blower with U.S. President George W. Bush. The North American Leaders' Summit takes place next month in Montebello, Que. And while we are to be the host, that doesn't necessarily mean we get the first word on everything.

Bush and Harper are to meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on August 20th and 21st to discuss key bilateral, North American and global issues, including free trade and the so-called war on terror.

But once again, news of today's phone call did not come initially from the prime minister's office. Instead, reporters in Ottawa first found out via the daily White House briefing in Washington.

According to White House press secretary Tony Snow, Bush and Harper talked for about 20 minutes. They discussed the Security and Prosperity Partnership between the three countries, one of the more contentious issues on the table next month.

They also touched on a number of other matters, including softwood lumber and the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Snow said that the president also thanked Harper for Canada's "steadfast support for the people of Afghanistan."