Joe Oliver mocked online amid bad economic news

Current Finance Minister Joe Oliver has largely been missing from the Conservative party's campaign trail. And it has led the internet to wonder where he is.

Finance minister has cancelled public appearances, remained quiet during campaign

Haydn Watters CBC News Posted: Sep 02, 2015 6:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 2, 2015

Conservative candidate Joe Oliver has been missing for much of the election campaign. That has left people on social media speculating where he is. (Joe Johnson/Twitter)

Tory candidate and currentFinance Minister Joe Oliver has largelybeen missing from the Conservative party's campaign trail.Oliver who is running for re-election in the Ontario riding ofEglinton-Lawrence cancelled scheduled speeches at twoToronto clubs this week and last, including one at a men-only club following criticism on social media.

Oliver remained fairly mumon Tuesdayafter news broke that Canada dipped into a recessionin the second quarter. Oliver addressed the news with a single tweetdefendingthe economy.

"GDP increased in 2nd quarter by almost $4 billion from beginning of April to end of June, a result of a buoyant month of June, up 0.5%," he tweeted.

Fellow Conservative candidateErin O'Toolespoke about the recession on behalf of the party on Tuesday's episode of CBC News Network'sPower & Politicsand Wednesday's edition of CBC Radio'sMetro Morning.

NDP members havestarted calling him "Joe Where?"

All of this has led the internet to wonder where Joe Oliver is.

MISSING PERSON: CDN Finance Minister Joe Oliver. Last seen behind PMSH. Report to Kory Teneycke, CPC Campaign HQ, Ottawa #cdnpoli
—@1weesel

If finance minister @MinJoeOliver hasn't been seen in public for 2 consecutive weeks, it means he's "technically missing" #cdnpoli #elxn42
—@jim_oleary

Where is the finance minister? Maybe he's at the cottage? Scuba diving? #WheresJoe
—@JigglyPants44

MISSING: Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver and every single Conservative candidate in the upcoming election. Has anyone seen them?
—@coreyandhobbes

Some likened Oliver to another famousbespectacled man who disappears from time to time

Where's Joe (Waldo) Oliver? #cdnpoli #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/9lyooLIZhI
—@ajhtweeting

h/t Joe Oliver. #cdnecon #cdnpoli #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/5Ul1bxVsUE
—@ff_dan_v

while others just took the opportunity to liken Oliver to Orville Redenbacher, the popcorn guy.

@stephenlautens That's ridiculous and offensive. Everyone knows Joe Oliver looks like Orville Redenbacher.
—@pattorfe

Even Stephen Harper's chinchilla, Charlie (who has its own parody Twitter account) had something to say about it.

By the way, I wasn't allowed on the campaign jet. I'm stuck here in the dark with Joe Oliver. #CDNpoli
—@24SussexCharlie

Some tied the disappearance to thegovernment's budget cuts.

@leadnowca @globepolitics @CBCPolitics Joe Oliver is missing? Just another Harper cut!
—@R2d2sDink

More than a few people thought they had found Oliver.

Patricia Best, a spokeswomanfor Oliver's campaign, said he has been busy with constituents and voters.

"Joe Oliver has been out in the riding knocking on doors and meeting voters several times a day since the beginning of the campaign," she told the Canadian Press in a written statement.

#cdnpoli Nice try Joe Oliver. FOUND ! pic.twitter.com/4I1RfEoZy6
—@WeinerB56

Humour columnist StephenLautensthought he spotted Oliver onHarper's new campaignplane.

BREAKING: Joe Oliver spotted on wing of Harper's new plane. #elxn42 #cdnpoli #WheresJoe pic.twitter.com/ac3Li4IqNL
—@stephenlautens

But some just got straight-up sassy with him.

@MinJoeOliver BREAKING, there's an election campaign going on. Thought you should know. #cdnpoli #elxn42
—@joyohbliss

@MinJoeOliver I'm surprised Harper allowed you out of Boo Radley mode today. #recession #elxn42 #cdnpoli
—@cartogeek

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