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Stephen Harper vs. the Gillers

Globe and Mail television critic John Doyle used his column yesterday to go after Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his quip about ordinary Canadians and the excesses of fatcat artists. While the issue is only tenuously tied to TV, Doyle takes a notably impassioned stand, writing in the form of a j’accuse.

There you were on Tuesday, saying this: I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see a gala of a bunch of people at, you know, a rich gala all subsidized by taxpayers claiming their subsidies aren’t high enough when they know those subsidies have actually gone up “ I’m not sure that’s something that resonates with ordinary people.

As Doyle points out, Harper undoubtedly had in mind the Giller Prize “ which, of course, is largely paid for by a private donor and a major commercial bank, and not taxpayers’ hard-earned dough.

But just in case, for this year’s Gillers be sure to dress down.