Ottawa

Tease the day: Harper’s India visit takes back seat, for now

Why schedule a major trip during a U.S. election?

CP/Sean Kilpatrick

Why would Canada’s prime minister schedule a six-day trip to India just as the U.S. presidential election reaches a fever pitch? The Globe and Mail buries its coverage of Stephen Harper’s trip on its fourteenth page. The National Post, Toronto Star and Ottawa Citizen give the trip—and its banner photo so far, a shot of Harper and his team eating samosas on an airplane—much more prominent coverage. Still, the American vote will surely dominate newspapers tomorrow, regardless of the outcome. Perhaps the prime minister is backloading his trip with important events that, once the dust settles down south, will dominate the news agenda. Or perhaps he just doesn’t care what newspapers put above the fold. Maybe all he wanted was the friendly photo op.


What’s above the fold this morning?

The Globe and Mail leads with U.S. President Barack Obama’s final push for a second term. The National Post fronts the blindfolded selection of the next Coptic pope. The Toronto Star goes above the fold with a cooling Toronto condo market. The Ottawa Citizen leads with the presidential election’s final day of campaigning. iPolitics fronts a throng of presidential election stories, but National Newswatch showcases another iPolitics story that alleges Conservative MP James Bezan had a hand, albeit indirectly, in the firing of a reporter at a Manitoba newspaper.


Stories that will be (mostly) missed

1. Arctic snow. Forget rapidly melting Arctic ice. Scientists are saying the Arctic spring snow melt is happening even more quickly, with the five fastest melts all coming in the last five years. 2. Illegal tobacco. RCMP documents suggest tobacco producers are selling large quantities of their product to illegal factories, many of which are located near First Nations reserves.
3. Prisons and mental health. A small brief in the Ottawa Citizen quotes Canada’s correctional investigator saying Correctional Services should do a better job managing mentally ill inmates. 4. Drug use in the army. DND documents suggest there have been more incidences involving drugs at CFB Borden, the army base north of Toronto, than during past years. Officials worry.

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
FILED UNDER: