Harper vs. Dion

Well, those were interesting — and contrasting — presentations. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's very short speech basically re-hashed what he and his ministers have been saying for the past week, with little or no new overtures to the opposition. The CBC talking heads read much significance on the use of "sovereigntist" in the French version and "separatist" in the English version, but otherwise were underwhelmed.

Coalition leader Stephane Dion's rebuttal was delayed for nearly half an hour in delivery, which made the CBC crew do what they could to fill the time, but there wasn't much new they could add. When Dion's tape was finally available to air, it was a remarkably amateurish affair, with the focus set just behind Dion, so that his face was slightly blurred, but the bookcase behind him was fairly clear. There were several minor fluffs that I would have expected to be edited out, but which were left in for the TV broadcast. It was a source of much amusement to us that one of the books visible behind him appeared to be titled "Hot Air".

Update, 4 December: CTV has the timeline:

• 6:15-6:30 - The Liberals miss their promised deadline to deliver Dion's statement to the television networks.
• 6:40 - Liberals arrive with a single tape at the press gallery in Ottawa. They were supposed to deliver two tapes: one in French, one in English. They arrived with a single tape in DVD-minicam format, which is not broadcast quality.
• Shortly after 6:40 - The Liberals decide to run back to their offices — a block away — because the French portion of the tape needs another edit.
• 7:05 - Liberal staffers are still in their offices as the networks go to air with the Harper address.
• 7:07 - Harper's statement finishes and network anchors are forced to kill time as they wait for Dion's address.
• 7:10 to 7:15 - Liberal staffers arrive back at the press gallery on Wellington Street with a DVD-minicam player that they had taken from their own offices, along with the associated cables. There is still only one tape, not two. A press gallery official tells the Liberals that the gallery is not the feed point and an argument ensues. The Liberals ask why they weren't told that earlier. The feed point is next door at the CBC building, which is the long-established feed play point for all network pools. The Liberals are informed that they need to be walked into the building by authorized staff.
• 7:20 - English network anchors are still live on television, wondering where the tape is. CTV has still had no communications from the Liberals about Dion's address.
• Approximately 7:15 - CBC receives the tape and begins dubbing into French and English versions. This takes about 10 minutes.
• 7:28 - CTV decides to go off-air and back to regular scheduled programming at 7:30. CTV has still not seen a feed of the tape.
• 7:28 - CBC incorrectly punches out the finished feed only to their network.
• 7:30 - CTV signs off broadcast at scheduled time.