Robert Barron, The Daily News, Nanaimo, September 10, 2010

In all my years as a newspaper reporter, I've never seen such a quiet crowd of journalists as I witnessed Wednesday during Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to the new shellfish research station in Deep Bay.

Managing editor Cale Cowan sent my colleague Krista Bryce and me to the media event, which was part of a quick tour by the prime minister of local infrastructure projects funded with federal cash.

We wanted to get close to Harper and ask some questions around local issues.

I've been tasked to cover many similar events when prominent politicians come to the region and I'm usually successful in worming my way through the crowds to get close enough to the target to ask the questions, even after event organizers had warned that the politician wouldn't be taking any media queries during the visit.
In my experience, any politician worth their salt will always take the time to answer the questions, even as the organizers gave me the evil eye for ignoring their rules of engagement.

However, any hopes I would do the same during Harper's visit were quickly extinguished.

Krista and I were scrutinized by RCMP officers at the heavily guarded gate at the research station and then by the prime minister's substantial personal security contingent before being herded into a holding area with the other reporters and camera people to wait for the imminent arrival of the nation's leader.

We were told Harper would take no media questions at this leg of his visit and only pictures of his tour of the facility would be allowed.

Normally, I would smile and nod at such instructions as I studied the layout of the event and decided on my best approach to the politician.

But the presence of more than a dozen security personnel in dark suits and sunglasses and carrying revolvers on their hips kept my feet planted on the spot and my lips firmly sealed for fear of being tackled and/or shot.

Other than the sound of the snapping of pictures, dead silence met the prime minister and his entourage as they arrived at the site for his well-choreographed and orchestrated tour of the facility.

While Harper is a world leader who requires protection from the kooks among us, I wondered if past prime ministers would have been so willing to sideline the people who they depend on to get their message to the local population.

Krista and I headed to the next leg of the prime minister's brief tour of the region, the site of Nanaimo's new cruise-ship terminal, where we were assured we would be allowed to ask some questions.

I was allowed one question before being shuffled away from the microphone.

I wonder if Harper feels his visit was worth it.

Contact reporter Robert Barron at RBarron@nanaimodailynews.com or phone 250-729-4234.

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