One of the great traditions on Parliament Hill is the walk down, or up, the set of stairs that run from the foyer of the Commons to the second floor offices of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.

It has been the custom for the PM and the leader of the oppostion to walk down the stairs just before the start of question period.

Chris Rands

That provides a chance for the television cameras to capture some extra pictures of the leaders, and for reporters to try for a quick quote.

Frankly, it's also the most direct way from point A to point B, which is not to discount the fact that the stairs form part of Canada's political theatre.

Back when he was prime minister, Brian Mulroney loved the stairs so much that he held scrums there, looking down on reporters, after question period.

Former prime minister Jean Chretien would sprint up and down them as often as he could to prove he still had the youthful spirit.

When he was in Parliament, Liberal minister Brian Tobin would arrive in the Centre Block, zip up the stairs to hang up his coat and then saunter back down into the House.

Perhaps he was trying to look more prime ministerial in advance of a leadership bid?

Sadly, however, the stairs have fallen out of favour with the current prime minister.

Stephen Harper now prefers to use the back way into the Commons.

The last time I remember him using the famous walkway was in January — it was for a photo-op with the finance minister on budget day.

So while the tour guides point the prime ministerial stairs out to their groups when they walk through the foyer, those reporters within earshot wonder when will they see the prime minister using the stairs again on a regular basis?

What will change the mind of someone who would rather walk, the long way round, every day to avoid the press?

Personally I'm willing to ask the PM one soft question a week about his favourite sport to encourage him to change his path.

Here goes: "Prime Minister, should there be a second NHL team in Toronto?"

— Chris Rands