It was a seemingly perfect photo-op. Stephen Harper was about to announce plans for a small tax break for first-time homebuyers and his staff had arranged for him to do a walk-though in a partly-constructed home with a young couple who — reporters were led to believe — were the actual first-time homebuyers of this particular home. Exactly the kind of people Harper’s announcement was supposed to benefit. After all, why else would they be showing off the place to the Prime Minister?

Well as it turns out, they were not the owners of that home. Yes, they’d just bought a house, by the same developer, somewhere — but not this one. The couple was in truth more tourist, than tour guide; not that the facts should get in the way of a good photo-op.

Funny that was never made clear at the time. Funny reporters weren’t allowed to attend the photo-op (photographers only). Oh, the questions they might’ve asked (eg., “Hi — so is this your home?”)

But Harper sure looked good on TV.

— Paul Hunter