Remember when we used to obsess over whether Chrétien or Martin would get to visit the sacred Bush ranch?

Obama may, may not wave as he passes Ottawa. My suggestion to Barack Obama: if you want to show a sensitivity to local customs, what you should do is meet Stephen Harper for 45 minutes and then go downstairs to a Liberal fundraiser where you introduce Michael Ignatieff as the next prime minister of Canada. Don’t worry, Mr. President: In Canada, I’m told they think that kind of behaviour is classy.