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    Canada Politics

    Stephen Harper’s Christmas card ‘controversy’

    In recent weeks, Stephen Harper has been criticized for his position on the Kyoto Accord, the omnibus crime bill, and his decision to eliminate the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly.

    Now, he's being called out for the family portrait donning the cover of his 2011 Christmas card (pictured above).

    The Toronto Star is reporting Harper and his children appear to be wearing the same clothes they did in last year's picture.

    "The backdrop is different — a garland-laced fireplace this year, an outdoor scene with 24 Sussex Dr. behind them last year," notes the article.

    "But the Prime Minister is sporting the same grey sweater and red-striped shirt. Son Ben is in a white shirt, daughter Rachel in a similar-looking blouse with the same bracelets adorning her wrist. Only wife Laureen appears to have changed outfits and hairstyle from one year to the next."

    The columnist, appropriately,  concludes that the Prime Minister was unable to get everyone together for the annual holiday snap, so may have just 'photoshopped' a new picture.

    The newspaper even called the Prime Minister's office to get to the bottom of the story but was met with an uncooperative spokesperson who said "no comment...it's a Christmas card."

    The majority of online readers of the column have blasted the newspaper for publishing the story.

    "All the Star does now is spend all their time trying to find any little thing you can to twist and spin to deride the government of the day," Westender wrote.

    "This is not news but petty vindictiveness."

    Another reader wrote: "Slow day in the newsroom? Who really cares if they're wearing the same clothes as last year?"

    But in fairness to the Star, Canadian newspapers have been publishing and critiquing political Christmas cards since the 1950s.

    Last year, the controversy was around Michael Ignatieff's card.

    "Michael Ignatieff's Christmas card isn't a Christmas card," Sun Media personality Ezra Levant wrote in a column last December.

    "It's a "holiday" card. It has a Jewish menorah on it, which is great...But there's not a single Christian symbol on the card."

    (Handout photos)

    What do you feel about this article?

     

    82 comments

    • cary  •  5 months ago
      WHO CARES!!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  5 months ago
      I couldn't really care what they wear, but their Christmas Card could have read Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays, since it is a Christmas Card not a Holiday Card !!!!!!!!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  5 months ago
      The columnist must not have much to write about!
    • Canadian gal  •  5 months ago
      Does it really matter that it may be the same photo as last year. What's the problem? Who cares?? Stupid question...apparently everybody cares or lack thereof about what they are wearing. Grow up people.
    • Jess C  •  5 months ago
      big deal. it's a christmas card. He's not the only person to wear the same clothes a year apart. Did they ever think that maybe those are the clothes that they wanted to wear. And sorry but that would be hard to photoshop. They aren't even sitting the same way in both pics. Give it a rest already.
    • Stella Bettencourt  •  5 months ago
      do u guys have nothing better to do get alife
    • GreenAce  •  5 months ago
      All these comments from trivial minds geared to poop digging at the risk of smelling really bad. AMAZING!
    • christine  •  5 months ago
      I think it's sad that Harper can't find enough time to get together with his own family.
    • OldFart  •  5 months ago
      Hey!! Wait minute. Isn't Stevie wearing the same dress as last time.
      • A Yahoo! User 5 months ago
        omg. olfert? bahahaha
    • RICHARD LAPENSEE  •  5 months ago
      lets keep this simple ( dont care )
    • Colin W  •  Seoul, South Korea  •  4 months ago
      Last year? So what, some of my shirts are 7 years old. I'm still regularly wearing a wool sweater that my father gave to me for Christmas in 1995.
    • Colin W  •  Seoul, South Korea  •  4 months ago
      Has it occurred to anyone that some people have only one set of really "nice" clothes. Only one sweater that they are really "proud" about. Only have one "favorite" shirt, perhaps.
      Check my school photos from grade 1 to grade 12. At least once I wore the same shirt or sweater for two consecutive years.
    • jason m  •  5 months ago
      my wife pointed out this was probably shot last year, in the same crop of photos that last years 'choice' came from.

      they're busy ... who isn't ?
    • Ðêù§  •  5 months ago
      its also the same photo for 'December' on the conservative 2011 calendar.....wait I don't particularly care - how he is running the country is more important
    • A Yahoo! User  •  5 months ago
      Who really and truly cares....they picked from the proofs of last year's photo shoot!! They probably saved the Canandian people money. Wasn't that thoughtful of Harper. bah humbug!!
    • good by yahoo  •  5 months ago
      good old harper,same clothes,except for mother harper
      i guess the tax payers will pay for all the postage
      if you look close, you will notice that it look like
      they haven't brusheed their teeth for a year
      who's fault is it anyway,i say it's all the frigging
      jerks who voted for the jerk
    • PHILIP  •  Kitchener, Ontario  •  5 months ago
      It appears that the righters of this artickle kneed to look up the werd "controversial" (Just seeing how many of my typos the writers pick up)
    • sjklj h  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  5 months ago
      So, a prime minister possibly photo-shopped a Christmas card? Good. It let's me know he's a busy guy.
    • julia  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  5 months ago
      "Michael Ignatieff's Christmas card isn't a Christmas card," Sun Media personality Ezra Levant wrote in a column last December.And neither is this card.It doesn`t have christian imagery nor the word" Christ",yet Mr.Levant doesn`t mention it.Is he tired of spindoctoring for Mr.Harper.
    • Se-reene  •  5 months ago
      I investigated the matter(lol) and came to the conclusion that they are no photoshoped.
      They are all wearing different clothes except for the prime minister and also have different facial expressions. Harper does not have, obviously a stylist. The others, are simply a product of their mother who is, no doubt, a creature of habit. I would have liked to see Merry Christmas somewhere but don't expect anything more in these times.
      I think that this is just fun and is a change from all the tragic stories that we usualy read in newspaper. A bit of critical thinking never harmed anyone.lol

      Merry Christmas to all!
      • answers 5 months ago
        And a Merry Christmas to you

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