Local star power flanks PM

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This article was published 30/03/2011 (5533 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He loves Lady Maria, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper is not so gaga about "reckless coalitions."

Harper used his first rally in Winnipeg Tuesday night to echo the now-familiar themes of his campaign: An opposition coalition would raise taxes, boost spending, threaten Canada’s economic recovery and risks handing the country over to a party that seeks to break it up.

"What would the world think if we were to suddenly veer off in some brand-new, high-tax direction led by a reckless coalition without a coherent program or even basic national principles?" asked Harper. "That is why we must have a strong, stable, Conservative government."

Canadians go to the polls on May 2.

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About 700 Tory supporters waving campaign signs and thunder-sticks jammed into a meeting room at the Victoria Inn Tuesday evening for Harper’s rally. Beforehand, the Tory leader and his wife visited 10-year-old YouTube sensation Maria Aragon at her home and had a short singalong with her at her keyboard. Aragon, who sang with Lady Gaga in Toronto recently, then kicked off the rally with the national anthem.

"As you may all know, this is one very talented young woman, and maybe she was born this way," said Harper, name-checking Lady Gaga’s most recent hit.

Looking relaxed and speaking Oprah-style without a podium, Harper touted his budget, saying the opposition brought down Parliament and killed several Tory measures that would have helped ordinary Canadians. He said the "coalition" rejected an increase to the guaranteed income supplement for seniors, aid for parents with kids in the arts and other budget goodies.

"The coalition said no. Conservatives say yes and we’ll do it without raising your taxes," said Harper, whose mantra was shouted back to him by supporters.

As he has from the start of the campaign, Harper hammered away at the threat a coalition government would pose to the economy and the country’s unity.

"You can govern the country or you can advocate for the breakup of the country," said Harper, referring to the Bloc Québécois. "You can’t do both."

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has repeatedly denied he would form a coalition with the NDP or the Bloc. Meanwhile, Harper has come under scrutiny for having reached out to the NDP and the Bloc in 2004 as then-Liberal prime minister Paul Martin’s minority government teetered.

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That episode, and the contempt motion that brought the Tory government down Friday, earned no mention in Harper’s stump speech, though he did note his government had never claimed to be perfect.

What Harper didn’t do was announce a candidate in Winnipeg South Centre. It was widely believed Harper would use his visit to announce school trustee Joyce Bateman as the South Centre candidate at the rally. But senior Tories say an announcement is slated for today. They would not say whether Bateman is the appointee. In fact, senior Tory organizer Marni Larkin said Bateman had not yet applied to be a candidate.

But the Tories did introduce a candidate for Elmwood-Transcona, Lawrence Toet.

Harper took no questions from reporters.

maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca