Renaming Calgary airport after Stephen Harper — or not — sparks duelling petitions
CBC News | Posted: October 27, 2015 8:57 PM | Last Updated: October 27, 2015
Thousands of Canadians add their names to either side of hypothetical debate
If election night didn't offer up enough political drama, now you can follow another race involving Stephen Harper.
An online petition is gathering steam, calling on the Calgary International Airport to be renamed after the soon-to-be-former prime minister.
But a rival petition has garnered, to date, even more support — this one calling for the airport to not be renamed after Harper.
- Stephen Harper to move back to Calgary following election defeat
- Conservatives to elect interim leader on Nov. 5
Who will win? Time will tell.
Does it matter? Probably not.
The petitions are, of course, completely non-binding and, even as an expression of public sentiment, they're somewhat dubious.
Questionable signatories
Among the names on the pro-Harper side, for example, is one person who signed as "Stephen Harper."
Others have signed the pro-Harper petition but added virulently anti-Harper messages.
Many of the supporters on both sides are also anonymous.
"Harper was a great Prime Minister!" wrote "Name not displayed, AB."
A signatory to the anti-Harper petition, meanwhile, suggested a slightly different moniker — and acronym — should the re-naming go ahead.
"Stephen Harper International Terminal," wrote "Name not displayed, ON."
#HarperAirport
Twitter, of course, had a field day with the whole thing.
The #HarperAirport was trending in Calgary and across Canada.
Here's a flavour of some of the response: