It will be a harsh return to cold reality for Prime Minister Harper

Power Play: PM Harper's cold return to Canada Power Play's Don Martin on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's return to Canada after touring Israel on the taxpayers tab.

He will trudge reluctantly back to the House of Commons next week. It will be a harsh return to cold reality for the Prime Minister.

Stephen Harper is coming off an idyllic getaway to Israel and Jordan, an eighth anniversary as prime minister present to himself with 220 old and new friends as guests.

He faced only two hecklers on the week-long tour, not two parties full of them awaiting his return.

He basked in adoring crowds sticking out their hands for a shake instead of regular Canadians raising a single finger in salute.

He was warmly cocooned by tagalongs from his caucus, the business community and Jewish organizations grateful for this generous freebie. Aside from touring the four corners of the world’s religions on the taxpayer’s tab, they served to eagerly amplify applause at every Harper appearance.

And despite having an MP busted for crassly pleading for a re-election campaign photo at the Jewish faith’s holiest site on the western wall with reporters in earshot, the Conservative leader undoubtedly collected thousands of voter IOUs from the faithful back home.

For all that, plus the spiritual sightseeing, the honorary doctorate, the bird sanctuary bearing Harper’s name and the warm weather, the price for taxpayers will be nine figures.

But for not having seen a Liberal or NDP, heard a word about the Senate or been exposed to fishing friend Rob Ford’s latest antics for an entire week? Well, for Harper, that’s priceless.

To his credit, Stephen Harper weaved through the Middle East diplomatic minefield without causing a detonation. Even if you don’t appreciate his views, it’s clear he’s achieved elder statesman status on the world stage.

But now it’s time to tackle real problems. There are too many jobless out there while his signature job training program languishes in limbo. The loonie is crashing. There’s a fire disaster site in Quebec to visit, by-elections to call and railways to make safe.

The holy holiday’s over for Stephen Harper. Next up, an unholy ruckus in the House.

That’s the Last Word.