Joe Oliver mocked online amid bad economic news
Finance minister has cancelled public appearances, remained quiet during campaign
Tory candidate and current Finance Minister Joe Oliver has largely been missing from the Conservative party's campaign trail. Oliver — who is running for re-election in the Ontario riding of Eglinton-Lawrence — cancelled scheduled speeches at two Toronto clubs this week and last, including one at a men-only club following criticism on social media.
Oliver remained fairly mum on Tuesday after news broke that Canada dipped into a recession in the second quarter. Oliver addressed the news with a single tweet defending the economy.
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"GDP increased in 2nd quarter by almost $4 billion — from beginning of April to end of June, a result of a buoyant month of June, up 0.5%," he tweeted.
Fellow Conservative candidate Erin O'Toole spoke about the recession on behalf of the party on Tuesday's episode of CBC News Network's Power & Politics and Wednesday's edition of CBC Radio's Metro Morning.
NDP members have started calling him "Joe Where?"
All of this has led the internet to wonder where Joe Oliver is.
MISSING PERSON: CDN Finance Minister Joe Oliver. Last seen behind PMSH. Report to Kory Teneycke, CPC Campaign HQ, Ottawa <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@1weeselIf finance minister <a href="https://twitter.com/MinJoeOliver">@MinJoeOliver</a> hasn't been seen in public for 2 consecutive weeks, it means he's "technically missing" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a>
—@jim_olearyWhere is the finance minister? Maybe he's at the cottage? Scuba diving? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WheresJoe?src=hash">#WheresJoe</a>
—@JigglyPants44MISSING: Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver and every single Conservative candidate in the upcoming election. Has anyone seen them?
—@coreyandhobbesSome likened Oliver to another famous bespectacled man who disappears from time to time …
Where's Joe (Waldo) Oliver? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="http://t.co/9lyooLIZhI">pic.twitter.com/9lyooLIZhI</a>
—@ajhtweetingh/t Joe Oliver. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnecon?src=hash">#cdnecon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="http://t.co/5Ul1bxVsUE">pic.twitter.com/5Ul1bxVsUE</a>
—@ff_dan_v… while others just took the opportunity to liken Oliver to Orville Redenbacher, the popcorn guy.
<a href="https://twitter.com/stephenlautens">@stephenlautens</a> That's ridiculous and offensive. Everyone knows Joe Oliver looks like Orville Redenbacher.
—@pattorfeEven Stephen Harper's chinchilla, Charlie (who has its own parody Twitter account) had something to say about it.
By the way, I wasn't allowed on the campaign jet. I'm stuck here in the dark with Joe Oliver. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CDNpoli?src=hash">#CDNpoli</a>
—@24SussexCharlieSome tied the disappearance to the government's budget cuts.
<a href="https://twitter.com/leadnowca">@leadnowca</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/globepolitics">@globepolitics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCPolitics">@CBCPolitics</a> Joe Oliver is missing? Just another Harper cut!
—@R2d2sDinkMore than a few people thought they had found Oliver.
Patricia Best, a spokeswoman for Oliver's campaign, said he has been busy with constituents and voters.
"Joe Oliver has been out in the riding knocking on doors and meeting voters several times a day since the beginning of the campaign," she told the Canadian Press in a written statement.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> Nice try Joe Oliver. FOUND ! <a href="http://t.co/4I1RfEoZy6">pic.twitter.com/4I1RfEoZy6</a>
—@WeinerB56Humour columnist Stephen Lautens thought he spotted Oliver on Harper's new campaign plane.
BREAKING: Joe Oliver spotted on wing of Harper's new plane. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WheresJoe?src=hash">#WheresJoe</a> <a href="http://t.co/ac3Li4IqNL">pic.twitter.com/ac3Li4IqNL</a>
—@stephenlautensBut some just got straight-up sassy with him.
<a href="https://twitter.com/MinJoeOliver">@MinJoeOliver</a> BREAKING, there's an election campaign going on. Thought you should know. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a>
—@joyohbliss<a href="https://twitter.com/MinJoeOliver">@MinJoeOliver</a> I'm surprised Harper allowed you out of Boo Radley mode today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/recession?src=hash">#recession</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@cartogeek