In Inuvik yesterday, the Prime Minister attempted to define a recession. “Somebody said a recession is when people start losing their jobs, and when your neighbour loses his job. There are job losses, but overall employment is pretty stable,” he said.

A well-read reader suggests Mr. Harper has mangled Ronald Reagan’s line from the 1980 presidential campaign: “A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.”

This is a not inconceivable connection to draw, at least given the Prime Minister’s recent fondness for the one-liners of late 20th century Republican presidents.