>LANGUAGE

A PMO adviser told reporters Monday in advance that Stephen Harper would not provide answers in both official languages, as he has for the past seven years. It’s a standard request. It means reporters for French and English outlets don’t have to repeat questions and each get replies. And it allows more subjects to be covered since the PM limits the number of questions he’ll take and almost always refuses to answer follow-ups. Now, the prime minister would reply only in the language in which a question is asked. If reporters wanted an answer in both languages, they had to ask in both. In the end, for the lone French language reporter on the trip, allotted just one question of the six Harper would take on Monday, it meant he ended up listing all the previous questions he’d like the prime minister to repeat in French for Radio-Canada’s television and radio programming. Harper rattled off a laundry list of answers, in rusty French. —Tonda MacCharles