Conservative MP Mark Adler pleaded to get in a 鈥渕illion-dollar shot鈥� with Stephen Harper in Jerusalem as the prime minister solemnly observed one of the most sacred Jewish sites.
As Harper visited the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Adler could be heard in the background asking if he could bypass security to get a photo with the prime minister.
鈥淐an I get in?鈥� Adler asked Harper鈥檚 aide Jeremy Hunt.
When Hunt denied the request, Adler said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 the re-election! This is the million-dollar shot!鈥�
Adler, who represents Toronto鈥檚 York Centre riding, then asked if Hunt can bring Harper over later for a handshake.
The Globe and Mail reported that Adler and Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver were eventually able to pass security and take photos with Harper before he left the site.
Harper placed a written prayer in a crack in the Western Wall before leaving.
Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, defended Adler鈥檚 actions Tuesday, saying it鈥檚 鈥渘atural鈥� that the MP would want to take a picture with the prime minister.
鈥淢r. Adler represents a riding which has large Jewish community, which has very strong connections with Israel and so it is but natural that he would like to do that, there鈥檚 nothing wrong with that and I鈥檓 very happy to see Mr. Adler being on that trip,鈥� he told CTV鈥檚 Power Play.
However, NDP deputy leader Megan Leslie said photo-ops are 鈥渆xactly what this trip is about.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about that real diplomatic work,鈥� she told Power Play.
鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting because in some ways, Mark Adler is more courageous than many Conservatives have been and he acknowledges that yeah, this is about the re-election.鈥�
The Opposition has accused Harper of using his Israel trip for partisan purposes and bringing along Conservative MPs, failed candidates and fundraisers at the taxpayers鈥� expense.
鈥淭axpayers are paying for it, then you should have people who are going who are going to be representing Canada -- not the Conservative Party only,鈥� said NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife
