Lord Foulkes of Cumnock voiced his concern at the "apparent contempt" in Mr Harper's response.
On some issues, Mr Harper has abandoned conservative principles to march to the centre.
With Mr Harper now a more familiar figure, that may not work this time.
But Mr Harper is a cautious man, with a fine ear for Canadian tolerances.
Canadians began to worry that Mr Harper was not doing enough to protect them.
Mr Harper was eventually able to transform his minority government into a majority last year.
That may be because Mr Harper is more confident of his position at home.
If Mr Harper did not quite win the election outright, the Liberals certainly lost it.
Ms Spence has urged Mr Harper to "open his heart" and meet native leaders.
BBC: Canada PM meets chiefs amid Teresa Spence hunger strike
Mr Atleo attended the meeting with Mr Harper after calling for unity on Thursday evening.
BBC: Canada native meeting ends with pledge of further talks
But sooner or later, Mr Harper's government will fall on a parliamentary vote of confidence.
But the biggest worry about Mr Harper is his contempt for the rules of Canadian democracy.
All this means that when parliament reconvenes on September 19th, Mr Harper will face less exacting scrutiny.
Colleagues at the Daily Record newspaper where Mr Harper worked as a journalist paid tribute to him.
The new rules will come into force on Thursday, Mr Harper added in a written parliamentary statement.
Mr Harper said Canada - a Nato member - was not considering direct military involvement in Mali.
Mr Harper has ruled that out while Joe Clark, a former prime minister, remains the Conservative leader.
Mr Harper inherits a party whose membership has fallen by more than half since the last election.
In a statement to reporters on Friday, she accused Mr Harper of making "false statements about funding".
BBC: Canada native meeting ends with pledge of further talks
This activism, rather than Mr Harper's standpat response, resonates with the average Canadian, says Nik Nanos, a pollster.
ECONOMIST: Economic fears ambush Stephen Harper��s hopes of a majority
Mr Harper was expected to ask the governor-general either to suspend Parliament or to call a fresh election.
Mr Harper said the "working meeting" would focus on "the treaty relationship and aboriginal rights and economic development".
BBC: Canada PM meets chiefs amid Teresa Spence hunger strike
His opponents accused Mr Harper of just that when he extended Canada's military deployment in Afghanistan until 2009.
Mr Harper makes all the key announcements himself, the relevant minister just a nodding head in the background.
Mr Harper's farm has been in the family for three generations and he described this week's floods as "exceptional".
Because of its location, the farm is not insured and so no compensation will be coming Mr Harper's way.
He said that the report "clearly established that Mr Harper is simply wrong in his analysis of the past".
Following those discussions, Mr Harper agreed to continue "high-level dialogue" with the leaders.
Mr Harper's minority Conservative government was toppled in a confidence vote on Friday.
Mr Ayrault thanked Mr Harper for the "spontaneous" move to offer the plane.
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