Peter MacKay A Cheap Date

Stellarton, NS - Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay is a "cheap date", according to sources who witnessed the Conservative MP taking his U.S. counterpart to an area Tim Horton's.

Local retired curmudgeon Hank Andrews, 64, was enjoying his morning double-double and was shocked when MacKay and Condoleeza Rice walked in.

"I mean, with all that money and all, and he's got to take her to the Horton's? Seems pretty cheap to me. What they American's gonna think about us here?"

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is on a three-day visit to Nova Scotia to thank local residents for their assistance to stranded American travelers in the days following 9/11.

The impromptu Tim Horton's visit began, according to an insider, when MacKay was afraid his American Express card would be declined at Halifax's prestigious Le Figaro restaurant. Having only $4.36 in his pocket, he opted for a less-expensive lunch and covered it up with a promise to show Ms. Rice some "local flavour".

The visit was marred, however, when the counter staff mixed up the order.

"Well, it's kind of embarrassing, but Ms. Rice actually ordered a bagel with raspberry cream cheese and a french vanilla coffee. Instead we gave her four honey crullers. It happens from time to time," explained Elaine Benoit, who served the pair. "I just think that if her only experience with Canadians is here at Tim Horton's, I sure hope she doesn't think we can't get anything right."

And what did she think of Mr. MacKay?

"The bill came to $4.12. He paid with a lot of pennies, then asked for a receipt."