As the party leaders took to the skies this week, journalists embarked upon a hallowed campaign tradition: naming the plane.
Conservative leader Stephen Harper was the first to become airborne, and according to reporters who have been travelling with him, they’re riding in the Economic Action Plane – an obvious riff on the “Economic Action Plan” title of his government’s recent budgets.
READ MORE: Twitter users mock Harper’s plane
Earlier in the campaign, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was flying “Hair Air” – a reference to the “Nice hair, though” lines from anti-Trudeau Conservative attack ads. It’s unclear whether that name will stick though, as Trudeau has since switched to a different plane.
UPDATE: Journalists have since named the official Liberal plane “H’air Apparent”
And the NDP has apparently decided to name its own plane, something that travelling journalists dispute.
So, don’t expect “Air Mulcair” to be its permanent name, despite what the seat covers say.
As you might be able to tell, reporters love puns. Sometimes the aircraft names are a little mean, but they’re always groan-worthy.
Below, you’ll find some of the best airplane names from campaigns past.
2000: Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance
“Prayer Force One”
– A reference to Day’s very public religious beliefs
1984: Brian Mulroney, Progressive Conservative
“Billion-air”
– So named for the party’s lavish campaign spending
2011: Jack Layton, NDP
“Hipster Air”
– Layton had recently had hip surgery. In retrospect, this was perhaps a poor choice of plane nickname.
2006: Stephen Harper, Conservative
“Mr. Happy’s Flying Circus”
– Harper was not known for his humour and lightheartedness
1984: John Turner, Liberal
“Derri Air”
– A reference to a controversial incident where Turner patted a woman’s behind
2008: Stephane Dion, Liberal
“ProfessAir”
– Named for Dion’s personal style
2008: Stephen Harper, Conservative
Sweater VestJet
– Harper wore a sweater vest in a widely-aired and much-mocked campaign ad