Some days catch you by surprise, even in Ottawa.

First we learned that former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was in hospital in Montreal undergoing a quadruple heart by-pass.

Then, around two o'clock, we had the second surprise of the day. Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be coming over to the National Press Theatre for a news conference. This is a very rare event, indeed.

Until now the prime minister has opted to hold all his news conferences in Ottawa in the lobby of the House of Commons. That way, officials in the prime minister's office get to keep the list of who gets to ask the questions.

So what did he have to say? Well, first he had to borrow a pen from the chair of the press conference, Helene Buzzetti, a vice president of the press gallery. She had a spare pen, a red one — not the Conservative PM's normal colour but which he accepted anyway.

We speculated Harper would start by wishing Chrétien well but, instead, he chose to make no opening remarks and, red pen in hand, took his first question on minority government.

For the next fifty minutes Harper took questions on the coming throne speech on Oct. 16, the chance of a federal election this fall and Canada's policy in Afghanistan.

The questions kept looping back to the throne speech and this second session by the Conservative government. Harper repeated his priorities for tax cuts, tougher anti-crime legislation and environmental measures.

He repeated, repeatedly, that he wants to govern.

After a while there was a question about Chrétien's health and Harper wished the former PM a speedy recovery.

Yes, the point was made that this was the first time Harper walked over to the press theatre. No, he made no commitment that he'd be back.

Oh. And he gave Helene Buzzetti her pen back.