Much has been written about the new and improved relations between reporters and Stephen Harper's handlers.

And for the most part, that's been the case.

But it seems ever since (coincidence?) the Gerry Ritz Joking-About-Dead-Canadians incident — and this week's polls hinting at a tightening of Harper/Dion numbers in some key Ontario ridings — it's been a little less so.

When the media buses pulled into the parking lot today at the site of a Harper rally in Michel Fortier's Montreal-area riding, all was fine - up until a few seconds later when reporters and camera operators were told, "No one's getting off just yet".

Most sat there for a couple of minutes, thinking it was a minor parking issue or something but then people noticed a medium-sized crowd of demonstrators on the far side of the parking lot.

"Hey can we get off the bus?" said someone.

"No."

"Why not?"

No answer.

"But we want to go talk to the demonstrators."

"No one's getting off".

"Why aren't we allowed off? We're parked. We want to get off."

No answer.

"Is it because you don't want us to take pictures of the demonstrators?"

No answer.

By this point a small crowd of reporters and a photographer were crowding up to the closed, locked front door of the bus. Voices were raised.

Harper's handlers looked the other way.

Sensing the tension, TV cameramen started picking up their cameras to take video of the in-bus standoff. Within seconds, a change of heart, and everyone was allowed off.

Some images, it would seem, are worse than others.

— Paul Hunter