(Ottawa) If Shakespeare thought misery familiarized people with strange companions, he might well agree that mourning a beloved monarch can also bridge some political divides. At least temporarily.
Posted at 8:50 p.m.
Such was the case Sunday in London, when former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper was invested into the Order of Canada under the eyes of three of his former political enemies.
Mr. Harper is one of four former prime ministers present in the British capital for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
He received the title of Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019, but an investiture ceremony did not take place due to COVID-19.
Governor General Mary Simon therefore invested Mr. Harper during a private ceremony in London on Sunday afternoon under the eyes of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Prime Ministers Jean Chretien, Paul Martin and Kim Campbell.
“As we come together to celebrate (the Queen), I have been honored to be invested into the Order of Canada by (the Governor General of Canada) Mary Simon,” Stephen Harper wrote in a messenger on Twitter.
“Thank you to (Prime Minister) Trudeau, former fellow Prime Ministers Martin, Chrétien, Campbell and former Governors General Johnston and Jean for attending the ceremony. »
Former Governors General David Johnston, whom Mr. Harper appointed, and Michaelle Jean, were also present.
The political animosity between Mr. Harper and Mr. Trudeau in particular is well documented, but the two posed side by side for photos after the ceremony.
Having multiple former prime ministers and governors general attend global funerals together is not an unprecedented practice.
While Mr. Harper was Prime Minister in 2013, Jean Chrétien, Kim Campbell, former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney flew with him to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
In a post on Twitter last week, Mr Harper’s wife, Laureen Teskey Harper, responded to a reporter who suggested the flight to London would be interesting with all the political players on the same plane.
” Interesting ? asked the journalist. “Very interesting if we take past trips as a reference. Lots of laughs, stories, and I’m sure, this time, memories of the Queen. These kinds of trips are always wonderful. »
Mr. Chrétien spoke briefly to the media on Sunday and was asked about the presence of all the other Canadian leaders.
“So together and no fight,” he laughed. So it’s good. »
He said there weren’t many occasions for this kind of gathering.
“We know each other, we went through the same fights,” he said. We fought against each other. Just like when we play hockey, we can be tough on the ice and then we go for a beer after the game. »
Order of Canada ceremonies are not normally held in secret, but Rideau Hall and the Prime Minister’s Office chose not to inform media traveling with the delegation of Mr. Harper’s event on Sunday or any a similar event on Saturday which saw actress Sandra Oh and Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury invested in order. No explanation has yet been given for this secret.
Mark Tewksbury later said the ceremony allowed him and Sandra Oh to wear the insignia of the Order of Canada at the Queen’s funeral, which is due to take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday.