Twenty minutes or so before Stephen Harper’s arrival at an under-construction housing development this morning in suburban Kitchener, Ont., RCMP were on the lookout for potential threats to the Prime Minister.

And then they came: A small group of strong-looking men, kitted-up for some sort of apparent rough stuff. They were, after all, wearing hardhats. They were unshaven and suntanned. Some even had tattoos.

As they meandered down the street, toward the area where the PM would soon be, a burly RCMP officer raced toward them:

“What are you doing here?” they were asked.

“We’re construction workers — we work here,” they said.

“Have you got a pass? Have you got ID?”

“Uh, no.” they said.

A silent staring match ensued, and eventually (with a couple of reporters looking on snapping pictures) they were allowed to pass and go build houses.

Meanwhile, anyone who wanted to be in Harper’s presence for his morning remarks had to register with name and address as was the case the night before in London, Ont. Local residents who didn’t want to give up that information (i.e., Kitchener voters) had to stand on the other side of the road, about 100 metres from Harper’s spot.

Sound a bit much?

On the other hand — when Harper did arrive, suddenly so did a group of protesters with megaphones and placards, trying to disrupt Harper’s announcement of a small tax break for first-time homebuyers. The protesters were underlining for Harper the recent loss of manufacturing jobs in the area.

They did not make it past the line of police blocking their way. Then again, they didn't appear to be trying to do so.

— Paul Hunter