A real leader

With parliament out for the summer, MPs, Senators, and Party Leaders get to spend a few months away from Ottawa, doing whatever they please. MPs typically spend it in their constituency, hanging out with family and friends and holding the occasional fundraising for the party/future campaign. Senators, well who know what they do with their free time. But what about the Leaders, what are they up to?

Stephen Harper, Conservative: Well it has been quite a while since we last heard from the Prime Minister, but I think it's safe to assume he is not sitting in the House of Commons, pondering the future of the country like this PMO photo would have us believe. The latest official update on what the PM would be doing this summer: spend the summer at Harrington Lake, the Prime Ministers Official Country Residence.

Jack Layton, NDP: Who knows what this Leader is up to... we haven't heard from him in quite a while.

Elizabeth May, Green: Ms. May doing her usual promotions of green ideals. As she doesn't sit in the House, her summer schedule doesn't change much, unless there is an election of course.

Michael Ignatieff, Liberal: The Leader of the Official Opposition, unlike his counterpart in the Conservative Party, isn't spending anytime at his Official Residence (Stornoway), his constituency residence, or his private villa in Provence. Instead, Ignatieff will be travelling all across Canada by bus, called the Liberal Express. He has stops planned in every province, and every territory in the country, and he plans on meeting as many Canadians as possible. Virtually the entire trip is unscripted with people meeting him, asking him questions, and getting answers. Ignatieff will be listening to the country's opinions, concerns, and ideas, because that's what a good Leader does. They listen.