UPDATED: On second thought, I think I prefer him wrapping himself in the flag …

… than attempting to deny its existence.

From today’s Question Period:

Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, as part of the culmination of the machinations of the leader of the NDP, we had these three parties together forming this agreement, signing a document, and they would not even have the Canadian flag behind them. They had to be photographed without it.

They had to be photographed without it because a member of their coalition does not even believe in the country. As Prime Minister it is not my responsibility to turn the keys of power over to a group like that.

UPDATE – Environment Minister Jim Prentice at the post-QP scrums:

Hon. Jim Prentice:      Mr. Dion is attempting to subvert the democratic will of the Canadian people.  In the last election, people spoke very clearly.  To attempt to take over the Government of Canada with a government propped up by a separatist party is not something that was put to the Canadian party.

Question:                       Is that not how a parliament works?

Question:                       Is it appropriate in the context of a big debate now that’s unfolding in the country for the prime minister to make a false statement in the House that the Canadian flag was not there behind the news conference when photos show it actually was?

Hon. Jim Prentice:      Well, it was clear, I watched the press conference myself, they were not Canadian flags behind the three opposition leaders.  There were a number of flags there.  And I think the implication was clear that there were not only Canadian flags behind him.  That’s the point.

Question:                       But, Minister, there were Canadian flags.  We were there.  There were Canadian flags (inaudible) so why did you say there weren’t?

Question:                       (Inaudible) in the House in the context of a heated debate like this?

Hon. Jim Prentice:      Excuse me?

Question:                       Why wouldn’t you answer that question?

Hon. Jim Prentice:      There was a Canadian flag.  The point is there were not only Canadian flags behind the opposition parties when they announced —

Question:                       (Inaudible)

Question:                       provincial flags.

Question:                       Are you saying they’re anti-Canadian, Minister?

… and from Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl:

Question:                       Why did you lie about the flag because there were flags behind them?

Hon. Chuck Strahl:      The picture that I saw and the picture that I had — actually saw, somebody gave it off the Liberal Party website, shows that there is no flags there.