Is Harper at the opening Ceremonies in Beijing?

Question

Is Harper at the opening Ceremonies in Beijing?

Answer 1

I'd be quite pleased if our PM did not attend.  There's a country to run, for goodness sake!  Are the athletes any better if the PM attends?  I don't know -- I think it's strange for the world's leaders to run to the Olympics. I'd prefer they be at work making sure our country is taken care of.   I think that's just me, though.

Answer 2

No....there is someone representing Canada, not sure who it is, but Harper did not attend

Answer 3

no Harper wont be there and has made it clear that chinas human rights record and persecution of religious groups made it necessary to skip the opening ceremonies in protest.  Canada and China have been on the outs since Harper came into power and to parphrase Harper "Canadians dont want to see us fold on human rights abuses and freedoms for the sake of economic gain"./  The guy attending opening ceremonies on canada's behalf is david emerson (foreign affairs).  I think harper may be going later on.  

I have to give harper kudos for being one of the least "sluttie" foreign politicans when it comes to not being seduced by the "big buck" opportunities in china.  It makes me choke when i see these "democratic" leaders who ignore things like executed prisoner's organs being sold for transplant,  execution of people for religious beliefs, squashing tibetin freedoms etc etc.. just to get a piece of the "china" action.  

China has retaliated in several ways one being that Canada is one of the few countries not on the "approved" list of tourists destinations.

However, with a good chunk of the worlds oil, water and other natural resoruces which the chinese desperately need to keep their "economic miracle" alive I say Canada should hold fast on our position.