In Canadian politics image isn’t everything, but it can have some major pull.
When it comes to federal politics most of the image revolves around that of the major leaders.
At the end of last month, before the return to the House of Commons, two different images were presented of the two men a recent poll has indicated are currently the most popular federal leaders in Canada — Prime Minister Stephen Harper of the Conservative party and NDP Leader Jack Layton.
Harper has inadvertently cultivated an image of a stiff, often uncomfortable man. He’s tried to make himself seem like a comfortable, everyman (remember the sweaters during the 2008 election campaign?) to limited success.
Layton is not exactly viewed as ordinary either. He’s a professor, with which a lot of people tend not to identify, and that does come out. He can also be a real bulldog when he believes in something. That’s a trait that can be either endearing or off-putting, depending on how it is done.
So these two politicians, both of whom could stand to have their images boosted, were very visible to Canadians at one of the best times in the country’s history — but in very different ways.
During the entire Olympics, Harper’s face was a fixture at various events. There he was in the stands with his Team Canada gear on, sitting in prime seats often next to dignitaries such as Wayne Gretzky.
Sadly, Harper stood out and not in a good way. Some people were probably not impressed that he was taking up prime seats when they thought he should have been at the House of Commons working (work didn’t shut down for the rest of us because of the Olympics).
Secondly, Harper did very little to shuck his stiff image, clapping awkwardly and often not smiling. Even when he was hugging athletes such as freestyle skier Jenn Heil he seemed a little awkward. This was in marked contrast to the much more gregarious Gord Campbell, premier of British Columbia, who seemed very much at ease.
Sure, he was everywhere but I don’t think Harper’s appearances at the Olympics helped soften his image.
On the other hand was Layton. Layton didn’t have prime seats in Vancouver, rubbing elbows with Canadian legends. Instead, the only appearance Layton made during the Olympic TV coverage, although obviously staged, made him look more like an average Canadian than any of Harper’s appearances.
During coverage of the Olympic gold medal hockey final, CTV had strategically placed cameras in certain public venues across Canada to show the reaction of Canadians.
One of the cameras was trained on the bar at Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant in downtown Toronto. Just after Sidney Crosby’s winning goal, CTV showed the bar at Wayne Gretzky’s as people cheered, jumped up and down, and hugged.
At first glance I thought the woman in the front near the camera was NDP MP, and Layton’s wife, Olivia Chow. Can’t be, I thought.
Then, after showing other parts of the country, the bar was shown again and sure enough it was Chow and right behind her was Layton — grinning, cheering and celebrating with the other patrons just like an average hockey fan.
It’s probably no coincidence that Layton and Chow were strategically placed so close to the camera. There was probably a concerted effort to get them placed there. But once they were in that position they reacted emotionally like most other Canadians. While the set up was genuine, the reaction was not contrived and felt more real than those of the prime minister.
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The poll referenced above came out last month from Nanos Research. Harper and Layton both outscored Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff in all categories, including: trust (Harper 25 per cent, Layton 20.8, Ignatieff 10.4); competence (Harper 33.6, Layton 14.2, Ignatieff 13.9), and vision for Canada (26.8 for Harper, Layton 17.2, Ignatieff 16).
Jason Small can be reached at 691-1255.
