When Harper sets a tone...

It is with shock, but not really disbelief, that I found myself reacting to the news of Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz' vile jokes about listeria deaths. It's a sad day in Canadian politics when we find out that this is how our government handles a tragic crisis:

During a conference call with scientists, bureaucrats and political staff on Aug. 30, Ritz made several off-colour jokes about the outbreak.

After fretting about the political dangers of the Listeria scare, Ritz quipped: "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts."

Then when told of a death in Prince Edward Island, Ritz said, "Please tell me it's (Liberal MP) Wayne Easter."

Easter is the Liberal agriculture critic and has called for Ritz's resignation over his handling of the outbreak, which was linked to a Maple Leaf Foods meat processing plant north of Toronto.

I wonder, does Harper "set the tone" for his cabinet ministers too?