Canadiens versus Canucks – already?

Heritage Minister James Moore wrote on his “Twitter” last weekend that his Vancouver Canucks are “Canada’s Team.”

He added especially because of their “handsome” blue-green sweaters, the old colors of the Alliance Party.

A reply was not long in coming.

Liberal MP Justin Trudeau replied on his “Twitter” that Moore didn’t have to love the Montreal Canadiens but at least he could “show a little more respect.”

Coincidentally, before entering politics, Trudeau taught school 12 years in Vancouver. It didn’t rub off on his hockey preferences.

Both men carried their hockey rivalry out into the foyer of the House of Commons where they were heard shouting their choices above the heads of the crowd.

New Democrat Leader Jack Layton got in the final word. The real “Canada’s Team” is the one that played at the Olympic Games and won” he said.

Stephen Harper would probably agree with Trudeau. After all, Harper closed down Parliament for a month last winter so he could go out to Vancouver to watch Canada's Team.

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By coincidence the annual cost of running the House of Commons and paying salaries of 308 MPs and cabinet ministers was made public last week -- $357 million including Harper’s month-long shutdown during the winter.