While visiting England recently, Jean Chretien is invited to have Tea with the Queen.

Given his recent political problems, he decides to take advantage of her years of leadership experience. He asks her what her secret is and how she maintains her image inspite of thethings happening around her. She responds that her secret is to surround herself with the most intelligent people she can find and let them do their jobs. Intrigued with this novel theory, Chretien asks her how she is able to tell if the people are intelligent.

"I do so by asking them a test question" responds the Queen. "Allow me to demonstrate." The Queen calls over Tony Blair and asks, "Mr. Prime Minister, please answer a question for me?"

"I'll do my best, Your Majesty" responds Blair.

"Your mother and father have a child" says the Queen. "The child is not your brother or your sister. Who is the child?"

Tony Blair confidently replies, "Well, Your Majesty, it would have to be me."

"Correct" says the Queen. "Thank you and good day to you, Sir."  "Did you see that Mr. Chretien? See how clever he is?" she asks.

Impressed, Chretien replies "I certainly did. I'll definitely be using that technique when I return to Canada."

Upon returning to Ottawa, Chretien decides to put someone to the test. He summons Sheila Copps to his office and says, " Madame Minister, I wonder if you could answer a question for me?"

"Why of course, Sir" Copps responds eagerly, impressed that the Prime Minister was actually seeking her input on something.

"Your mother and your father have a child and the child is not your brother and not your sister. Who is it?"

Copps asks if she can have some time to think about it.

"Time is of the essence," responds Chretien.

Copps goes to the Liberal caucus and asks them the question.  No one knows the answer.   They contemplate an inquiry, but Copps knows she needs to get the answer back to Chretien as soon as possible.  Desperate to impress her boss, she spots Stephen Harper and says, "Mr. Harper, I have a question for you, . Your mother and father have a child and the child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Without hesitating, Harper responds "It would be me, of course."

Copps rushes to the Prime Minister's office. She exclaims, " Mr. Prime Minister I know the answer to your question.  I know who the child is!!"

Chretien asks, "Who is it Sheila?"

With obvious pride, she replies, "It's Stephen Harper, Sir!!"

Chretien looks at Copps in disgust and replies, "That's wrong you idiot - it's Tony Blair!!"