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It turns out that taxpayers are picking up the tab for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's personal primper. After two days of ducking media and opposition questions, the Conservatives finally revealed Wednesday that Michelle Muntean is on Harper's government staff. But the revelation raises two more big questions: How much is she being paid? And why is there no government record of her employment. News that Harper uses a style maven had the opposition both frothing and laughing. "Does the prime minister have difficulty sleeping at night wondering whether he should wear the light blue socks or the dark blue ones?" New Democrat MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis asked in the House of Commons, to loud hoots and claps. "Can the prime minister tell us who pays for his fashion adviser, and how much that costs?" Liberal MP Garth Turner also took a shot at his former boss: "It's a legitimate question. I think it's an embarrassing one to him because he likes the cowboy image and not all cowboys wear powder."
Government House Leader Peter Van Loan wouldn't say who pays for Muntean's services. "Mr. Speaker, the prime minister maintains a tour staff, as do all prime ministers," Van Loan told the Commons. But a government source later confirmed that taxpayers are on the hook for Muntean's services -- although the Conservative party pays her expenses. However, there is no record of Muntean as an employee of the Prime Minister's Office, according to an official at the Privy Council Office. And an Access to Information request turned up no record of contracts paid out to Muntean.
Jennifer Ditchburn, Canadian Press Published: Canada.com (Full Article) Apr. 18/07
OTTAWA (CP) - Tab for Harper's makeup maven remains a mystery
When Stephen Harper travels, there's a trusted woman by his side making sure his suit is lint-free, his tie is on straight and his coif is in place. No, not his wife Laureen. Michelle Muntean is the prime minister's image adviser. She rides the government plane with him around the world and to major domestic events. Last week, she accompanied Harper to ceremonies at Vimy Ridge in France. In November, she made sure his look was just so when he met with Pacific Rim leaders in Vietnam - although the traditional dress-like ao dai that Harper was forced to wear in the closing photograph was out of her control. Last summer, Muntean saw to it that the prime minister would be picture perfect for G8 meetings in St. Petersburg. She's expected to be part of Harper's public relations army in the next campaign too.
So who pays for her services? Harper's director of communications, Sandra Buckler, refused to answer repeated questions about who picks up the tab - or even how much Muntean earns.
"The prime minister travels with a variety of staff as determined by his tour needs," Buckler said in an e-mail. A government source said Muntean's expenses are paid for by the Conservative party, but whether taxpayers pay for her services remains a mystery. As a Reform MP, Harper publicly criticized then-leader Preston Manning for not divulging how much the party had paid for his wardrobe allowance. Manning eventually detailed the $31,000 he had received, but not before tensions had erupted in the party and caucus over the issue.
Jennifer Ditchburn, Canadian Press Published: Canada.com (Full Article) Apr. 18/07
OTTAWA (CP) - Tab for Harper's makeup maven remains a mystery
When Stephen Harper travels, there's a trusted woman by his side making sure his suit is lint-free, his tie is on straight and his coif is in place. No, not his wife Laureen. Michelle Muntean is the prime minister's image adviser. She rides the government plane with him around the world and to major domestic events. Last week, she accompanied Harper to ceremonies at Vimy Ridge in France. In November, she made sure his look was just so when he met with Pacific Rim leaders in Vietnam - although the traditional dress-like ao dai that Harper was forced to wear in the closing photograph was out of her control. Last summer, Muntean saw to it that the prime minister would be picture perfect for G8 meetings in St. Petersburg. She's expected to be part of Harper's public relations army in the next campaign too.
So who pays for her services? Harper's director of communications, Sandra Buckler, refused to answer repeated questions about who picks up the tab - or even how much Muntean earns.
"The prime minister travels with a variety of staff as determined by his tour needs," Buckler said in an e-mail. A government source said Muntean's expenses are paid for by the Conservative party, but whether taxpayers pay for her services remains a mystery. As a Reform MP, Harper publicly criticized then-leader Preston Manning for not divulging how much the party had paid for his wardrobe allowance. Manning eventually detailed the $31,000 he had received, but not before tensions had erupted in the party and caucus over the issue.
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