Prime Minister Stephen Harper, known for avoiding the media, gave an exclusive interview to Costco’s magazine.

Except for the occasional holiday TV interview, Harper is known for eschewing one-on-ones with Canadian journalists and limiting the number of questions he’ll take from media during press conferences.

But he gave a full two-page spread to Costco Connection, a member’s magazine for the mega warehouse retail chain in Canada. Appearing on page 20-21, the sit-down with the PM wasn’t even the main cover photo for the magazine’s March/April edition.

The whole thing reads like softball practice with his campaign manager, complete with photo taken by a PMO photographer. In the interview he answers three questions related to family tax credits, small business tax credits and the impending EU trade agreement.

“We have many small businesses at Costco, and the job credit promises to help them. Where do you expect them to reinvest their monies achieved through this credit?” Wendling asked.

“Obviously, our hope is that businesses use it to expand their payrolls, but every business will make its own unique decisions,” Harper told the magazine.

The story does not mention his favourite free sample, or if he feeds Kirkland cat food to his foster cats (the Harpers have long been known to foster cats from the Humane Society).

In January, Laureen Harper did a quirky interview for the PMO’s YouTube video series 24/7, where she listed her favourite things.

Last February, the Star revealed Conservative party plans to “leverage” Laureen Harper’s popularity during the 2015 election campaign.

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