The Canadian Press
Stephanie Levitz
GATINEAU, Que.—Federal party leaders put down their swords to celebrate those who wield the pens and microphones Saturday night.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, and NDP leader Tom Mulcair all spoke at a dinner honouring 150 years of the parliamentary press gallery.
None missed an opportunity for digs at themselves, each other, and the reporters they gathered to celebrate.
And neither did Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.
In reference to recent coverage that she needs more staff, she called four members of Trudeau’s inner circle to the stage at the Museum of History and had them unveil a yoga mat.
She then balanced herself on her arms, legs up in the air, telling her husband that was how it was done—a dig at a photo of him doing a similar move that’s been widely circulated online.
Justin Trudeau also poked fun at another political counterpart: U.S. President Barack Obama.
At the recent White House Correspondents Dinner, Obama had cracked a joke at Trudeau’s expense.
“In fact, somebody recently said to me, ‘Mr. President, you are so yesterday; Justin Trudeau has completely replaced you—he’s so handsome, he’s so charming, he’s the future.’
“And I said, ‘Justin, just give it a rest.’”
Trudeau’s response: he’ll miss him.
“There’s been a lot of talk about my ‘bromance’ with President Barack Obama, how I look up to him, how I have so much to learn from him,” Trudeau said.
“And I’m like, ‘Barack, you are absolutely right. Thank you for pointing it out, again.’
“I will miss his leadership, his good advice,” Trudeau added. “I will not miss the wedgies.”
Another leader whose departure was noted—former prime minister Stephen Harper.
Ambrose, currently leading the Tories, made several jokes at his expense, noting his aversion to the press.
Harper never attended the dinner while serving as prime minister.
In offering up suggestions for new slogans for the current Conservatives, Ambrose suggested “The bad man is gone.”
On his way out—and choosing to hold nothing back—was Mulcair, who declared he was different than the others because he no longer cares.
Also at the event was Governor General David Johnston, who paid tribute to the power of the press.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the parliamentary press gallery, which actually incorporated a year before Confederation in order to cover the fledgling government.
And the origins of the annual gallery dinner date back at least to the early 1870s, with references in some newspapers to Sir John A. Macdonald attending.
