Contributed by: evilscientist
Harper takes a salute meant for the Governor General. Reality to Harper – you are the head of government, not chief of state and hence not entitled to such an honour.There is a difference between head of government and chief of state. In some systems, like that of our neighbours to the south, the president fulfills both functions, but in our parliamentary system, the two roles are separated. The Queen through the Governor General is the chief of state and hence the chief executive. This entitles the GG to certain military salutes including 21 gun salutes. Despite what he seems to believe Harper, as PM is only head of government. Though this gives him the actual political power, it does not afford him the honours due the chief of state. For example as PM Harper is only entitled to a 19 gun salute.
Given that a Tory cabinet minister stated that Harper took the salute because "he wanted it that way" implies to me that Harper has some delusions of grandeur or at the very least an over inflated sense of self-importance. This is not a man governing for the good of the nation, but someone who is lusting for power for power's sake and wants all the trappings that go with that. Makes you wonder when he loses an election if he'll go.
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Evilness
http://www.evilscientist.ca/article.php?story=20090703070110634