conservative geography

First, this is in no way meant to belittle the tragedy that Japan has experienced today. My thoughts are with the victims and those labouring to make Japan safe again.

The disaster served, however, to illustrate how woefully unprepared is Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon for his job. Interviewed on CTV Newsnet this afternoon, Cannon reported that the New Zealand prime minister, like our PM, had already offered assistance. Perhaps attempting to explain why the NZ offer came before Canada's, notwithstanding that NZ is recovering from its own devastating earthquake last month, Cannon stated that, of course, "New Zealand is much closer" to rush aid to Japan.

Fact: flying distance from Vancouver to Tokyo - 4703 miles; Wellington to Tokyo - 4820 miles.

Seems Conservative geography hasn't improved since Stockwell Day claimed the Niagara River flows south. No surprise both were chosen by a prime minister who had never set foot outside the country, until doing so as head of government, to represent Canada abroad.