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“Friends, these guys just don’t get it,” Harper told 300 supporters gathered at the Ben Weider YM-YWHA Centre in reference to New Democratic Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

“We’re living in a dangerous world. We have a responsibility to see things the way they are, not through some ideological lens.”

“Justin just isn’t ready and Mulcair and his party have not wavered from their socialist and protectionist ideologies.”

True to the Conservative tradition, the event — the party’s campaign’s official launch — was tightly scripted and held under heavy security. In order to attend, citizens had to seek permission and be vetted in advance by party officials.

They were carefully positioned in the hall before Harper entered and even practiced slogans in advance to create better television optics.

On hand for the launch were about 40 Conservative candidates, including big names such as Denis Lebel, Maxime Bernier and Gérard Deltell.

About 75 protesters nevertheless awaited the arrival of Harper’s big blue campaign bus on Westbury Ave.

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One protester was arrested by police for uttering threats.

Another who managed to get into the building and who was a member of the Femen group was wrestled to the ground by hefty security guards and hauled away just as Harper was at the “Montreal is a great city,” part of his speech.

“In fact, Montreal is missing only one thing, a Conservative MP,” Harper said addressing the fact the party has not a single MP on the island. There are only five Conservative MPs in the whole province.