I’m more than used to our Prime Minister’s vicious personal attacks on Ignatieff, other opposition politicians, civil servants, NGOs, artists, disadvantaged people, and anyone else who gets in his way. Like most Canadians, I disapprove. But using the international stage to play politics and throw partisan mud at his opponents amplifies Harper’s poor behaviour many times over, and reflects very badly on our country. It’s highly inappropriate that, instead of using airtime to address foreign policy, Harper chooses domestic trash talk. He was so eager to bash Ignatieff that he didn’t even bother to use factual information. It’s like he just can’t help himself.

As Embassy Mag points out today, this isn’t the first time Harper or one of his ministers has embarassed Canada by using a foreign visit to diss his competitors instead of talking about Canada, about our issues, about our contributions. It’s no wonder that Harper has arguably the lowest profile of G8 leaders. As Canwest reporter David Akin explained to Embassy, he is so little-known that “photographers are constantly asking who Mr. Harper is.”

It’s easy to make the case that Harper is bad for our international image. His irresponsible, do-nothing climate policies isolate us. His vitriolic defence of the internationally-condemned commercial seal slaughter is an embarrassment. His refusal to seek repatriation for Canadian child soldier Omar Khadr is scandalous. These are only a few examples.

For the sake of our reputation, I sincerely hope we are rid of Harper soon. I’m tired of being embarassed by his ideologically-based policies and his frequent gaffes.

Like every other federal leader, Iggy is in Alberta this week, flipping pancakes and schmoozing at the Calgary Stampede. Given the energy he has previously expended expressing his undying affection for the Alberta tar sands, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that his rhetoric is getting louder. But where he blows my mind is with the insane statement that Canadians should actually take pride in the tar sands. I wonder if the First Nations people of Fort Chipewyan are proud of the skyrocketing cancer rate in their community that is likely attributable to the environmental abomination that is the tar sands.

Ignatieff goes on to say:

“The Liberal Party of Canada is not going to come forward with climate change plans that club the industry on the head.”

Might I suggest a new slogan for the Liberals in the next election? (Conservatives will like this one, too.)

“Club seals, not the tar sands.”