By Gary Shaul, Catch 22 campaign

Canadians were surprised to learn that a little known Order in Council passed in December by the Privy Council, changed the country's name from "Canada" to "Harper". The change was prompted by several phone calls to the PMO insisting that "Canada" is an antiquated vestige from the 19th century and the country was long overdue for a modern name. Privy councilors loved the idea and readily agreed. The new name was chosen by PM Stephen Harper.

Cons rebrand Gov't of Canada as 'Harper Gov't'

And lest anyone forgets, a directive went out to public servants late last year that "Government of Canada" in federal communications should be replaced by the words "Harper Government..."

Scores of news releases -- from the Canada Revenue Agency to Fisheries and Oceans, Finance, International Trade, Health Canada and Industry Canada -- are all headlined by "Harper Government" actions.

Even the Treasury Board Secretariat is using the term.

Treasury Board is the federal department charged with policing government communications policy, including the Federal Identity Program...

Catch 22 has now learned through reliable sources that effective April 1, the names of all provinces and territories in Harper, the country formerly known as Canada, will also be modernized to honour the country's great conservative heros. We got a sneak preview of the list.There are so many Con heroes to be recognized that several provinces will now have hyphenated names.

• British Columbia - Bennett
• Alberta - Klein
• Saskatchewan - Devine
• Manitoba -Toews-Bush
• Ontario - Harris-Baird
• Quebec - Duplessis-Cannon
• New Brunswick - Hatfield-Beck
• Nova Scotia - Stanfield-Hannity
• Newfoundland - Reagan
• Prince Edward Island - Duffy-Nixon
• Yukon - Mulroney-Wayne-Cherry
• Northwest Territories - Conrad-North
• Nunavut - Laureen-Palin

It's rumored that Toronto's new mayor, Conservative multi-millionaire Rob Ford, would like to have the city renamed "Ford" in honour of his father. However, he'll have to wait until after he helps Tim Hudak become Ontario's next premier in October for changes to the City of Toronto Act.

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