Stephen Harper once famously quipped to George W. Bush, that he was lucky Vladimir Putin had only shown Bush his dog. The American president relayed in his memoir that Putin had been unimpressed with Bush’s Scottish terrier named Barney and asked if he could introduce Bush to his own dogs.

“As we walked the birch-lined grounds of his dacha, a big black Labrador came charging across the lawn. With a twinkle in his eye, Vladimir said, ‘Bigger, stronger, and faster than Barney,’” Bush wrote in his memoir.

“You’re lucky he only showed you his dog,” Stephen Harper told Bush, according to the book.

It’s the kind of dry humour that Harper is known for, among those who know him. His comments also speak to his view of Putin, which was on display again this week as Harper referred to the Russian leader as “evil” and described him a “Bond villain.”

Speaking at a gathering of Canadian and American politicians in Saskatoon, Harper said that of all the people he has met, more people ask about Putin than anyone else.

“I get asked more about Vladimir Putin, meeting Vladimir Putin than any single person,” Harper said.

Harper’s host pointed out that as PM, he personally called out Putin in 2014 after his invasion of Crimea.

“Yeah, and I don’t accept a drink from him or anything like that,” Harper........

© Edmonton Sun