It would take an act of God to get Harper in the Maritimes...

In the world of Stephen Harper, the Maritime provinces are hapless victims of their own attitudes.

"There's unfortunately a view of too many people in Atlantic Canada that it's only through government favours that there's going to be economic progress, or that's what you look to... That kind of can't-do attitude is a problem in this country but it's obviously more serious in regions that have had have-not status for a long time." (Toronto Sun, May 31, 2002)

Visiting these have-not, hand-perpetually-out-begging provinces is therefore very low on the Prime Minister's priority list. Any visits made by the PM are usually short, perfunctory events, where you can be sure he has a list of names for all the provincial politicians. Except, of course, for Danny Williams, of whom the PM is acutely aware for job security reasons.

The headlines this morning, then, announcing Harper's planned visit to flood-ravaged sections of New Brunswick prompted my eyebrows to skyrocket. I wasn't even sure if Harper knew where New Brunswick was.

Perhaps, in a gesture of true generosity toward we pessimistic Maritimers, he'll announce federal flood relief funding. I do have to give the man credit. He really doesn't like the eastern section of the country. Dollars to donuts he has a deal with the US to sell us all to Maine should Quebec succeed with separation.

However, push has come to shove, and when disaster strikes, Stephen Harper likes to be there to pick up the pieces. From pulling together a fractious party to reassembling the country after years of mismanagement, Harper likes to see himself as a man who makes things work.

Unless Alberta decides to form its own nation. If a butcher is required to chop Canada into regions, I'm sure Harper has a cleaver at hand and divisions in mind.

Welcome to NB, Prime Minister. Home of friendly, hard-working, struggling Canadians who need your help in the face of a natural disaster. You'll probably hear more jokes this afternoon than you hear in a year in Ottawa. That's because Maritimers have a unique ability to persevere through adverse conditions through teamwork, diligence, and humour. You'll be hard pressed to find a defeatist attitude today.

If the feds can call in the army whenever it snows in Toronto, surely they can help those of us who can't help ourselves in times of true need.

More to come, once I remove my tongue from cheek.