Inside Politics

UPDATED - Media have no flight plan on PM's plane

by James Fitz-Morris Posted: January 29, 2010 2:27 PM Last Updated: January 29, 2010 5:57 PM
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper is seen deboarding a government jet as he arrives in Copenhagen in December 2009. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is sneaking back into Canada through the front door.

Harper flew back from Switzerland today.

While in the air his office announced the appointment of five new Senators and the Supreme Court ruled he has the power to decide to ask if Omar Khadr could be repatriated.

What does Harper have to say about these developments? Nothing.

Journalists travelling with Harper are being kept on the plane to ensure the Prime Minister doesn't face any questions in his short jaunt from the bottom of the staircase to his waiting limousine.

It's not difficult to keep us here.

The Prime Minister's plane is divided into two sections; the front section that is set-up like a modest flying office.

The back of the plane -- where the journalists sit -- looks like any other plane.

Normally, two sets of staircases are wheeled up to the plane -- one for the front and one for the back.

Today there's only one set, and journalists aren't allowed to use it.

Harper is being dropped off in St. John's, Newfoundland for an event here, then immediately flown home on a government Challenger jet. The original plane is carrying on to Ottawa with assorted PMO staffers and journalists. 

UPDATE: As our plane was on final approach to Ottawa - the Prime Minister's office wanted to make it understood that the journalists on the plane were not, in fact, being held captive. We were allowed to get off the plane in St John's - it's just that had we, we would not have been allowed back on. Arranging a way back home on a commercial plane would have been easy enough - but it's unclear what would have happened to our luggage stored in the PM's plane. What was made clear to journalists thought is that Harper would not have answered any questions anyway.