Stephen Harper showed little interest in talking about the Parti Qu脙漏b脙漏cois government's treatment of the Canadian flag during a visit to Quebec City on Friday.
The prime minister arrived in the provincial capital to news that the new pro-independence government had taken steps this week to officially yank the Maple Leaf from the provincial legislature. The move to pull the flag from its sole spot in the national assembly met with noisy resistance from provincial opposition parties - but not from the prime minister, who steered clear of the controversy when asked about it.
"What can I say?" Harper replied, paused, and drew chuckles from an audience.
"What I can say is our priority, for the people of Quebec and for the rest of sa国际传媒, is the economy.
I think that's the real priority of Quebecers - not old quarrels. I have no intention of participating in those old debates."
That drew applause from a friendly crowd, as Harper announced federal plans to rebuild Quebec City's historic military armoury that was destroyed by fire four years ago.
