Peace offering?

Last year, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper alienated many in Canada's arts community with this much-publicized remark:

"I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see ... a bunch of people at a rich gala ... all subsidized by the taxpayers, claiming their subsidies aren't high enough when they know those subsidies have gone up, I'm not sure that's something that resonates with ordinary people."

Hence the big splash when the Prime Minister made an appearance this weekend at Saturday's National Arts Centre benefit gala in Ottawa.

The notoriously stiff and private Harper sat at the piano with a passable rendition of the Beatles "With a Little Help from my Friends". His back-up band included ever-popular event headliner Yo Yo Ma. (Ma is not visible for very much of the video, but it looks like he was having a great time.)

Although some lyrics drew snickers, strategic consultant and Globe and Mail blogger Bruce Anderson called the appearance a political master stroke.

Harper was rewarded with a spontaneous standing ovation.