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Old 05-24-2006, 09:12 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Journalists stage boycott of PM's press conference

Seems PM Harper has upset some journalists by trying to be like his American counterpart and only let certain journalists ask questions during the scrums. They say they are trying to install some order to the scrums, but for some reason I just don't buy it.

Looks to me like Harper is trying to keep those that disagree with him from voicing their opinions. What next are we going to have American style town hall meetings where only loyal Conservatives are allowed?

It's a first for journalists boycotting a prime ministerial news conference though, so he can say he was the first to have that happen.
Quote:
Journalists stage boycott of PM's press conference
Prime Minister not taking questions

Reporters refuse to submit names to list

OTTAWA—About two dozen journalists walked out on Stephen Harper yesterday after he refused to take their questions, the latest chapter in an unseemly spat between the Prime Minister and members of the national media.

Parliament Hill veterans described the scene of reporters boycotting a prime ministerial news conference as a first.

It resulted in Harper being forced to make his announcement on aid to Darfur to a small handful of reporters, photographers and camera operators outside the House of Commons.

The impromptu boycott was the latest move by journalists in their ongoing tug-of-war with Harper over who controls news conferences.

The Prime Minister's Office insists on choosing who gets to ask questions based on a list it compiles. Officials say they're merely trying to install some order to the often chaotic ritual of parliamentary news scrums.

"It is unfortunate that a select group within the press gallery displays such hostility and exhibits disrespect toward the Prime Minister," said a Harper spokesman.

But the parliamentary press gallery is concerned that Harper wants to freeze out any journalists or news organizations that he dislikes and so has refused to submit names to the list.

"We can't accept that the Prime Minister's Office would decide who gets to ask questions," said Yves Malo, a TVA reporter and president of the press gallery. "Does that mean that when there's a crisis they'll only call upon journalists they expect softball questions from?"

After journalists refused to be placed on the list again yesterday, Harper spokesman Dimitris Soudas announced that Harper would be on his way shortly — and he would not be taking questions.

The press gallery president then turned to his colleagues and suggested they leave.

Most agreed, reasoning there was no point sticking around if the event could be covered by watching a television set from any newsroom in the country. The Star was one of the media outlets that chose to remain.
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Old 05-24-2006, 12:05 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silent_jay
Seems PM Harper has upset some journalists by trying to be like his American counterpart and only let certain journalists ask questions during the scrums. They say they are trying to install some order to the scrums, but for some reason I just don't buy it.

Looks to me like Harper is trying to keep those that disagree with him from voicing their opinions. What next are we going to have American style town hall meetings where only loyal Conservatives are allowed?

It's a first for journalists boycotting a prime ministerial news conference though, so he can say he was the first to have that happen.
Shrug - it's nothing new, this has been around forever. For years, McGuinty wouldn't talk to any reporter from particular Ottawa media outlet. Other politicians would just ignore your question, no matter how loud you yelled it.
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Old 05-24-2006, 12:51 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Meh, they're upset they don't get anymore invites for canapés and drinks at 24 Sussex.
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Old 05-24-2006, 01:20 PM   #4 (permalink)
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I think this is bullshit.

The beauty of the Canadian system was access. It's an unofficial aspect of "good governance". Harper wants to present his best foot forward. He is concerned that he will come out looking like an ass. This would effect his chances of re-election.

Mulroney, Trudeau, Chretien, etc. were all accessesible to the media (to the point of sparring with them). Harper isn't as quick on his feet. He is more like policy wonk or a bureaucrat than what we have come to think of as a Canadian leader.

If he isn't careful, this could bite him in the ass.
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Old 05-24-2006, 02:11 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by splck
Meh, they're upset they don't get anymore invites for canapés and drinks at 24 Sussex.
Yup and the only people whining are the liberal media and liberals themselves. It truely is interesting how far some people heads are so far up their you know what that little stipid matters like talking to the media or lowering a flag is taken as the all important matters of the country.

To me that says Harper is doing a good job so far.

I wish my memory was so good to remember when Chretien would walk past reporters after any number of scandals and didnt say boo.But that doesn't count. It never does when one is a bleeding heart liberal
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Old 05-25-2006, 04:11 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by percy
Yup and the only people whining are the liberal media and liberals themselves. It truely is interesting how far some people heads are so far up their you know what that little stipid matters like talking to the media or lowering a flag is taken as the all important matters of the country.

To me that says Harper is doing a good job so far.

I wish my memory was so good to remember when Chretien would walk past reporters after any number of scandals and didnt say boo.But that doesn't count. It never does when one is a bleeding heart liberal
Of course it must be ONLY the Liberals complaining . How is limiting media access a little thing? Seems pretty bloody big to me, or is it better when the only view we get is the one the administration wants us to get?

How does this say Harper is doing a good job? Is it because he's putting limits on who can ask him questions. Or is it because of his paranoia that the media is against his government?

Yes Chretien WALKED past them, he didn't want them to submit their names to a list and then have the PM go through said list and pick the journalists HE wants to have ask questions.

Seems rather big brotherish to me, or at least very American.
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Old 05-25-2006, 04:34 AM   #7 (permalink)
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What I am proud of is the fact that our media has done this at all. The American media should hang its collective head in shame.

For the Ottawa press corps to collectively say that they will not cover the PM unless this stops is a good thing. Remember, this all of the media, not just the so called "left".

As for defending Harper... what he is doing is indefensible. One of the cornerstones of our Constitution speaks about "good governence". This means that our government must be accountable for their actions. It is the whole purpose of Question Period. To my mind, access for the press is also part of this.

Why would we want to encourage spin? Why would we want *any* PM to be able to duck the difficult questions?
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Old 05-25-2006, 05:07 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Quote:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is vowing to avoid journalists on Parliament Hill, saying they're biased against his government.

"Unfortunately, the (parliamentary) press gallery has taken the view they are going to be the opposition to the government," Harper told London's A-Channel yesterday. "They don't ask questions at my press conferences now."

Harper, who said he's having problems with the media a Liberal PM would never face, said he's only going to deal with less hostile media on the road.
http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/National...96434-sun.html
I find this so amusing, Harpers complaining the media is being harder on him than they would be on a Liberal leader. What a load of shit that is.

Is it the medias fault he can't think quick enough on his feet to answer impromptu questions from journalists? Maybe he's mistaking bias for being an objective journalist, or maybe he's just a wee bit more like Dubya than we thought and he needs control of everything.

Well at least he's taking his ball and going on the road. What a buffoon Harper is becoming, I guess accountability only goes for everyone else other than Harper.

I hope this bites him in the ass.
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Old 05-25-2006, 07:53 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by percy
Yup and the only people whining are the liberal media and liberals themselves. It truely is interesting how far some people heads are so far up their you know what that little stipid matters like talking to the media or lowering a flag is taken as the all important matters of the country.

To me that says Harper is doing a good job so far.

I wish my memory was so good to remember when Chretien would walk past reporters after any number of scandals and didnt say boo.But that doesn't count. It never does when one is a bleeding heart liberal

huh? such paranoia/bigotry... why say liberals are bleeding heart? And if they are, what is the issue with that? I cannot think of any more conservative a value than good old traditional Canadian concern for the fellow person. I truly object to the characterization of bleeding heart-ism as being A) a bad thing and B) a Liberal thing.

As for Harper doing a good job so far: I like his stance on Afghanistan, but the devil is in the details. He needs to rise above being perceived as petty as is illustrated in the press conference thing, and the whole tempest around the coverage of the return of our dead soldiers or his snub of McGuinty This is not becoming. Statesmanship is applicable at home as well as abroad.

I am also waiting anxiously for his election plank of income splitting for single income families. This is the nuts and bolts of life, and the main promise that I liked from him. I am also awaiting the securing of our sovereignty in the North. But... He deserves some time on these major issues andI will wait, as I have given fair time to Martin.


People always have good memories of that cretin Chretien (even though his one smart act of keeping Canada out of Iraq on the eve of a Quebec election was a stroke of genious) but I've noticed that they have very poor memories of the scandals that rocked the Mulroney gov't. There's a reason that the Liberals had the mandate for sooooooo long.

Now, I propose that we desist from slagging based upon the positioning of a party, as we cansee there is very little difference between Libs & cons, but take a look at the details, and how they behave themselves. As Chretien was petty with the Pepper Spray incident (his joking of pepper on a plate swayed me away from voting for him ever again) so is Harper in this latest behaviour.
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Old 05-25-2006, 01:16 PM   #10 (permalink)
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I'm guessing the reason Harper is doing this is because much of what is spoken of him,...ie Acting like Dubya, is trying to turn Canada into an American style entity, is a weak leader etc etc etc etc is because so many everyday citizens have believed hook line and sinker in this nonsense and repeated these same inconsistencies over and over again.

As for people who question Harpers accountability at this early stage, yet voted Liberal in the last election, give your heads a shake.You are the last people who should comment on accountability after the corrupt Liberals made you and everyone else in this country look like fools.

Do I like what Harper has done? In the short term yeah. It's nice to see the sublimely subjective media get bitch slapped once in a while. But if he keeps it up, he might pay for it. But probably not. Canadians don't have memories like elephants do, but if they have I'm sure some spin can come out of the conservative media to take the heat off,...maybe something like the AMERICAN owned Tim Hortons running out of coffee or Canadian cable companies not showing American shows like 24, Lost or whatever.Tsk Tsk.

Now play nice boys.
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Old 05-25-2006, 01:45 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Which brings up another point surrounding this absurd sense of Harper trying to Americanize Canada. Good Grief

How many people here have, as I stated, supported Tim Hortons? How many of you have eaten a Big Mac, Whopper or Subway Sub? Guess what? American owned.

Anyone driven in or owned a Ford or a Buick car or truck? Watched tv or been to a movie recently? Read a book or magazine lately? Chances are it was produced by Americans.

The point being Canada is so saturated by American influence that it has over run our daily lives. And people are terrified that Stephen Harper is priming Canada to become the next state or states belonging to the USA. Oh the horror.

It's like people who bitch about Walmart because they've been told it's bad,bad bad. If Walmart is as bad as people say, then Greenpeace are terrorists. Geez, Walmart pays terrible wages for workers in China so people here can save a buck. Look around your homes and find how many things are made in China or Taiwan then compare them to how much stuff is Made in Canada.

Anyone eat an apple, an orange or strawberry lately. If it came from America, chances are that piece of fruit you have eaten was picked by a migrant worker working his ass off for peanuts. Do you care? Do you think about it?

Anyone have a Bell Canada land line in their house? Do you think the call center in India where Bell employs hundreds of people at are making $20 bucks an hour like they would here? Bet it is hot in there too. And not unionized either.

Anyway the point is before people go off on this ridiculous notion that we are becoming too American, look around. And look at the world as well. Quietly acknowledging our sometime hypocritical self is rather humbling at times, in a polite Canadian way that is.

Last edited by percy; 05-25-2006 at 01:52 PM..
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Old 05-25-2006, 04:56 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by percy
As for people who question Harpers accountability at this early stage, yet voted Liberal in the last election, give your heads a shake.You are the last people who should comment on accountability after the corrupt Liberals made you and everyone else in this country look like fools.
Never voted Liberal in the last election, I voted for the Green Party, does that mean I can still question his accountability? Yes it does, and all he is trying to do in censor the media.

Seems funny you can support someone who feels the need to ask journalists to submit their names to a list and only ask questions that are approved by the PMO. Doesn't seem like a press conference at all, more like a speech by Harper.

This has nothing to do with Canadians using American products, or Canadians being Americanized by TV, it has to do with Harper trying to use Big Brother tactics (a la the US) to subdue the media and keep dissidents from voicing their opinions.

Like I've previously stated what's next US style town hall meetings, with only Conservative supporters allowed? Or maybe Harper will want to get out of the House of Commons so he doesn't have to think on his feet.
Quote:
I'm guessing the reason Harper is doing this is because much of what is spoken of him
He's the PM, if he can't take a few bad words being spoken about him then he should find work in another field, definitely not politics.
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Old 05-25-2006, 05:40 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Yeah I'll give you some points silent_jay for that but wait,...Leaf fan.@#!*@#
That's ok, that explains alot LOL BAH

Are there anymore chicks in the Canada forum or am I just surrounded by guys? Wouldn't be the first time.

And as far as Harper.If I dressed him and took care of his image he would have scored a majority. He's got nice eyes though. (Sorry imagining myself being blonde.)

No offence taken,..

Why not set up a thread dedicated to Harper and count on his so-called mistakes as PM. BUT you have to have a better primeministerial response.Nah no one would be interested. Maybe call it SO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE PRIME MINISTER.

It's got a ring to it. Anyone up for the challenge.

sorry jacked the thread
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Old 05-29-2006, 07:15 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Found an interesting story in 'The Hill Times'. Seems to recap things and also has an interview with the new press gallery president, Yves Malo. Seems Harper is trying to stick to his guns, guess we'll see how it works out.

Quote:
Harper plays to his western base in battle with national media
As the new Conservative government rises in public opinion polls, the national media are being avoided and criticized by the PMO. So far, PM Stephen Harper is winning the PR battle.
As relations between the Prime Minister's Office and the Parliamentary Press Gallery turn increasingly fractious in Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is enjoying to his political advantage a public perception of the media as whiners, reporters and political observers say.

Prime Minister Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) government saw a significant rise in the polls last week, 43 per cent nationally, as he threatened to avoid the national media altogether by focusing on local media outlets across the country instead.

Don Martin, national columnist for the Calgary Herald, told The Hill Times last week that Mr. Harper's critical comments about the media are playing to his western base of voters, who view the national media as liberal-minded.

"He's singing a song that's music to the ears of westerners. There's an awful lot of cynicism and skepticism that the press gallery is this monolithic, liberal-loving, latté-sipping block of people who all see things the same way. The reality is obviously very different," Mr. Martin said, adding that some western Conservative MPs have said that one of the main issues constituents complain about is the national media giving Stephen Harper a rough ride.

"I don't really get it, because if Harper read Paul Martin's press clippings, he'd obviously see that there wasn't a lot of Liberal love-ins going on there. And if he reads his own clippings since January 23, he can't help but think he's had a virtual love-in with these guys."

Mr. Martin added, however, that neither the PMO or the media look good in this conflict, and the press gallery has public relations work of its own to do. "They have to show that they're willing to work with this guy and that they're not just having a hissy fit because they're not getting spoon-fed scoops by ministers and communications directors anymore," Mr. Martin said.

During a brief visit to London, Ont., Mr. Harper told the local A-Channel news that the national media were giving him a hard time because he is Conservative. "I have trouble believing that a Liberal prime minister would have this problem," Mr. Harper said. "But the press gallery at the leadership level has taken an anti-Conservative view."

Mr. Harper also suggested that the government would avoid the national media by targeting the local media. "We'll just get the message out on the road. There's lots of media in the country who do want to ask me questions and hear what the government is doing," he said.

Mr. Harper's comments--which the press gallery executive called "unfounded" and "regrettable"--followed yet another standoff with reporters on Tuesday last week, when roughly 20 to 25 journalists walked out on the Prime Minister at a news conference on the Hill. A dispute had emerged, once again, over the issue of whether the Prime Minister or the press gallery should control which reporters ask questions at news conferences.

Right now, the Prime Minister's press aide, Dimitri Soudas, asks reporters to sign up if they want to ask questions, but press gallery members say the system gives the Prime Minister the opportunity to "cherry pick" reporters from the list, suggesting the Prime Minister avoids answering questions from more critical reporters.

In protest, before the news conference began, reporters refused to sign Mr. Soudas's list, and were subsequently told that there would be no questions. A Global National story called the boycott an "act of defiance against new news conference rules imposed against the media." Journalists had reportedly prepared questions on Darfur, a coalition attack in Afghanistan that killed more than 15 civilians, and the standoff between aboriginals and their neighbouring community in Caledonia, Ont. After they walked out, Mr. Harper announced $40-million in military and humanitarian aid to Darfur to a near-empty room.

In mid-May, Mr. Harper cancelled another news conference on the Hill after reporters had again refused to sign the list. But Mr. Harper had a message to get out that day, and along with allowing reporters a few short scrums, the PMO instructed a few lobbyists to call reporters for the midday news cycle to feed them communications lines.

Later last week, at another news conference in Vancouver, Mr. Harper blamed the stand off on the press gallery. "The press gallery will not allow journalists to ask questions. If journalists want to ask questions, to me, that should be their choice. They're the ones who suffer, and otherwise, I don't think the public cares. It's unfortunate but I think it's something that the press gallery is going to have to work out among itself."

Although the media have had equally poor relations with previous prime ministers, such as Pierre Trudeau, the national media under Prime Minister Harper have found restricted and controlled access to ministers and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister holds unannounced Cabinet meetings without scrums; restricts media from the third floor where Cabinet meets; refuses to allow reporters to ask questions at photo opportunities in the Prime Minister's Office; and has implemented a centralized communications strategy in which all significant government communications, including MPs' letters to newspaper editors, must get PMO approval.

But Mr. Harper seems to have little to lose as he alienates the national media and targets local outlets. Some reporters say ministers are more available to media locally, and last week The Canadian Press reported that outside Ottawa, Mr. Harper led lengthy news conferences this month, taking questions from 11 reporters in Toronto, 14 in Calgary, 11 in St. John's and 17 in Vancouver.

Mr. Harper's steadily deteriorating relations with the press gallery also come as a new poll released by Ipsos-Reid last week found the Tories with more support nationally than the party has seen in 20 years, at 43 per cent. The Conservatives have an 18-point lead over the Liberals, at 25 per cent support nationally, according to the poll. The NDP dropped a few points to 15 per cent and the Green party remained at 5 per cent. The poll surveyed 1,003 Canadians May 16 to 18 and is considered accurate within a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Pollster Darrell Bricker, president of Ispos-Reid, told The Hill Times that the public is responding to the change in tone and direction of the government. Mr. Bricker said the public may view Mr. Harper's cool relations with the media as part of that change in tone, adding that the Prime Minister's focus on local media is a shop-worn strategy effectively carried out by former prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Jean Chrétien.

"To a certain extent, his disposition toward the media represents change too, because there wasn't a camera that Paul Martin wouldn't stand in front of, and Stephen Harper isn't in front of everybody, every day, and in their face explaining what Ottawa is all about, what the latest crisis of the day is in Ottawa, and people may be responding to that in a positive way," Mr. Bricker said. "The media may be all upset because it's not getting its daily burger from Stephen Harper, but the bottom line is that the public is responding favourably to what they see these days--a government that seems to be working."

But Peter Donolo, former communications director to prime minister Jean Chrétien, said that although Mr. Harper's strategy may be working so far, it will not last.

"My view is that over the short term there is very little impact of this debate over his office and the press gallery. Nobody cares. The public doesn't care. In fact, the public is more likely to side with the prime minister and his office than it is with the gallery," Mr. Donolo said. "I think they think it's whining on the part of journalists."

But Mr. Donolo also said the public are coming to view Mr. Harper as "chippy," that he responds poorly to criticism and goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid it. Mr. Donolo added that, over time, irritated reporters are less likely to give Mr. Harper the benefit of the doubt in their coverage.

"I worked for Chrétien for a very long time, and I think that helped keep us out of trouble. In his case I think that's going to be a problem for him," Mr. Donolo said.

If a minister or Mr. Harper makes a mistake, he said, the media will not be kind. "I think there's no question that the media will pile on, and part of the reason will be because, rather than spending time building bridges, they've been burning them."

Yves Malo, new president of the press gallery and a reporter for TVA, sat down with The Hill Times last week to answer some questions about the fallout between the Prime Minister's Office and the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

What is at the heart of this dispute with the Prime Minister's Office?

"It's only a matter of, are we going to let the Prime Minister's Office choose which journalists are going to ask him a question. There are other things to discuss, but the main thing is that one. That's the first subject. Then the Cabinet meetings, photo ops. These are the three subjects where it's not going well. We have to manage to find a way to resolve the question of the list, what we call 'the list.'"

How long has the Prime Minister been using this list?

"He started that right away. We tried their lists, and a month-and-a-half later we saw very well that it doesn't work, that some people never got questions. That's why at the last general assembly we decided unanimously that we won't go along with their lists."

Former prime minister Paul Martin had been choosing reporters to ask questions during the 2006 election. Reporters don't necessarily like that but say it's acceptable because it's not in a Parliamentary setting. What is it about the Parliamentary setting that changes the relationship?

"An election is not the same thing as day-to-day coverage. You're in a bubble. It's very dense, 30 to 40 days, and you have a message to deliver. It's another context. It's not the same thing. So you cannot apply that formula to day-to-day coverage because we have to serve our public and the public need to know that we are independent, to be sure that we are not picked by the Prime Minister's Office because we think the way they think. We have to be sure that people know we are independent."

How have journalists' access to government been taken away?

"First, no questions at photo ops, the first thing they removed. Then they did not inform us of the Cabinet meetings. Then no more cameras on the third floor. After that, it was the list. So they removed almost all the access."

It appears the Prime Minister feels that he doesn't need the national media, saying he will avoid it. Is that approach going to work?

"I don't think so. We are more than 200 journalists here on the Hill and when he said he's going to talk to local media, it's a weird strategy because the local media have very good journalists, but their concerns are not national, their concerns are local. If a local journalist asks a national question ... they don't necessarily have the background to put forward a good question and a good follow-up question. Not because they're not good journalists. They are, but their concerns are local, not national. So when he tries to avoid the national press, I think it's a mistake, not only a mistake but it's too bad for the public to be well-served and well-informed of what's happening in Ottawa."

What's it like for daily reporters in this communications environment, who need material every day? This is a very controlled communications environment, and there's a big difference between the work of columnists and daily reporters who need material every day. Are they finding it hard to get stories, or to get calls back from the PMO?

"To get a story every day, it's not tough. The only problem is with the PMO. When a minister is doing a press conference, we line up behind the microphones everything goes very well. We have no problem with that. Yes, the PMO is not calling back very much when you call there. I've never spoken to Sandra Buckler [Mr. Harper's communication director]. She's never answered any of my calls. It's not tough to do a story, and if the Prime Minister refuses to talk to me, well, no problem. I can talk to [Liberal Leader of the Opposition Opposition] Bill Graham, [NDP Leader] Jack Layton, [Bloc Québecois Leader] Gilles Duceppe. I can talk to other ministers, I can talk to lots of people. I prefer to have Stephen Harper, but for the moment, he's chosen not to speak to us. We have to resolve the problem sooner or later, and I prefer that sooner."

What's the next step for the press gallery?

"Open the lines of communication with the PMO. I wish that everything was going fine. All the editors of the major newspapers are in Halifax this weekend for a big reunion, and we expect from them their support."
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Old 05-30-2006, 01:51 PM   #15 (permalink)
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And well, another opinion,..

Canadians take a liking to Harper's style

By Herman Goodden


No small part of my giddy enjoyment of the first 100 days of Stephen Harper's prime-minister-ship has derived from the Tories' unerring marksmanship in exploding one smug Liberal shibboleth after another. Sometimes I just have to pinch myself and ask, "Is this really happening in Canada?"

Even if some hot new wunderkid such as Michael Ignatieff should succeed in rallying the Liberal troops to retake Parliament some time next year, I'll savour this interlude for decades to come as a sort of Ottawa variation on the Prague Spring.

Suddenly everything is open for discussion and question again. All those manifestly obvious facts of life that were too upsetting to broach under the Liberal regime are finally receiving due consideration.

Repeatedly and temperately, Harper has called out the media for the unfailing leftward tilt of their coverage. Though they vociferously sulk and whine because Harper reserves the right to choose whose questions he'll take in what order at media scrums, the press has yet to rouse much public concern for their diminished access. After the staggering incoherence of Jean Chretien and the non-stop platitudinizing of Paul Martin, too many Canadians are frankly enjoying the less-talk, more- action approach of this government.

From a public relations standpoint, it was a fatally petty move when 30 members of the Ottawa press gallery walked out in protest as the prime minister was about to address the Canadian response to the crisis in Darfur. Here we are ponying up an urgently needed $40 million for water, food and medicine to assist 2.5 million displaced human beings, and this select group of media giants insists the really important story here is Harper's unwillingness to let them badger him.

Support for Harper and the Tories is only building as they set to work dismantling one multibillion-dollar sinkhole after another that liberal orthodoxy deemed untouchable. Sure, the national gun registry was an obscenely expensive farce that only harassed weekend hunters while allowing full-time mobsters and thugs to conduct their lethal business in an unencumbered way.

Taxpayers were expected to keep on funding that fiscal pyre till the end of time because how can you not be for gun control? Then Harper astutely deduced there was far more security to be had by diverting funds from the compilation of some airy and unwieldy list to the actual hands-on policing of our communities.

Ditto the universal day-care scheme that Liberals kept promising. Didn't everybody want Canadian babies to enjoy top-quality, professional care? Harper let the air out of that delusion by honouring the far deeper desire of most young families to catch a few tax breaks and credits that could help them afford to take care of their own infants.

Now Harper's critics are upset at this government's unmistakable cooling toward the Kyoto global warming treaty. In terms of sound bytes, there were no stronger promoters of Kyoto on this planet than the Liberals. Last year, Paul Martin looked to score some America-bashing Green points by lecturing George W. Bush. "To the reticent nations, including the United States, I say this: There is such a thing as a global conscience, and now is the time to listen to it."

Then new figures were released revealing that Canada's greenhouse gas emissions had ballooned by a whopping 25 per cent since 1990. Over that same period, Kyoto holdout America's emissions increase was only in the mid-teens. The best performance of all was clocked up by another Kyoto refusenik, Australia, whose prime minister, John Howard, Harper warmly welcomed for a visit to Canada this month.

Harper has shown himself to be a shrewd and canny politician, ready to take a stand and unafraid, if necessary, to step away from a really fine sounding program that just isn't working. Such behaviour is radically shocking to Canadians. But over the last 100 days and counting, more and more of us are starting to develop a real taste for it.


http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Col...0/1605429.html
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Old 05-30-2006, 03:20 PM   #16 (permalink)
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The issue of what Harper is doing in one part of his mandate and what he is doing with the press are really seperate issues.

Ultimately, his stance with the Ottawa press corps is one where he wants to control the message. This is Harper's leadership style in a nutshell. He wants to hold all the cards. He does not trust his ministers and backbenchers to stay on message. He does not trust the media to buy his particular flavour of spin.

I do not buy the idea that the media is "leftist". It just doesn't hold water. Examine the stance of CTV talking heads, Mike Duffy and Tom Clark... these guys are decidedly centrist/right leaning (it is no surprise that Clark was the only Canadian journalist to interview Bush in a one to one situation).

The thing is, Harper is going to do things differently from the previous Liberal governments (one hopes anyway). People have questions about change. It really is his job to answer the tough questions. The media is there to ask the tough questions.

When I say he is taking a decidedly more US approach to his PR I do not mean that he is making Canada equal America. I mean that he is taking a page out of the US idea about what a press conference should be. They are pseudo events (this goes back much further than the 60s). There are few hard questions. Those who do ask hard questions are not invited back. The press conference is ultimately about spinning your message.

Traditionally our press has been free to ask whatever they like. The PM (or the minister on the hot seat) answers. Of course, they are also free to answer, "no comment."

Harper, in silencing his ministers and snubbing the press corps is trying to control the message and stage "press conferences" that conform to his message.

I suppose Herman Goodden (the writer above) has a taste for this but I know I don't. Harper can continue to alter policy, etc. I may not agree with everything he does, but as PM that is his perogrative (as long as he has the support of the House). The only thing I truly take exception to is his attempt to control the message with an iron fist.

As I said above, it runs counter to his own pledge of accountability and more importantly it runs counter to our constitutions pledge of "responsible government". A big part of responsible govenment is accountability. Part of this is achieve during question period and the other part is by the press...

This is especially important during a time like this when the opposition is quiet (the Liberals do not have a leader and no one else wants to rock the boat at present and risk an election). At times like this we need to press asking the tough questions.

If Harper is as good as he says he is, then he should have not difficulty answering the difficult questions.
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Old 05-30-2006, 06:41 PM   #17 (permalink)
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See now this is why I NEVER EVER get involved in the political discussions. I have opinions, but man, some people....
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Old 05-31-2006, 04:31 AM   #18 (permalink)
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Antikarma... you can't just say that and NOT post your opinion...

Come on, we all play nice and promise not to bite.
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Old 05-31-2006, 04:51 AM   #19 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by percy
.....and this select group of media giants insists the really important story here is Harper's unwillingness to let them badger him.
He's the PM, how is journalists asking questions badgering? Or is it the tough questions he considers badgering? Seems Harper likes accountability, but only when it applies to Liberals.
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Old 05-31-2006, 06:00 AM   #20 (permalink)
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My opinion isn't spectacular or stunning. I pretty much agree with what silent_jay said, and I need to point out that I have always HATED the politics of Harper, but have to say that I'm not displeased with his actions since he took office (with the exception of this of course).

My displeasure, and why I stay away from these threads, is people feel the need to come out loud mouthed and swinging, spurting things like "Liberal whining" and "Bias" and I mean, I can see this being two steps away from "Granola chewing marygeewanna smoking hippy motherf****". I love the fact that the political discussions on this board have stayed away from the partisan bickering of the Politics board, and hate to see the fact that this isn't the case here.

I myself have a political bias of course, as we all do, but you'll NEVER hear me coming out saying "Red neck sheep humping tractor jockeys don't understand how the media works and are ascared of people finding out their cousin is their aunt". EVERY political party has its merits, and as long as people are voting Conservative in Quebec I think that we can fairly say that the ideologies pass beyond geographical boundaries.

I hate to see us becoming the Yankees, I guess, where we blindly follow our political affiliations to the point of name calling and juvenile behavior. I dislike Harper, I do. But, beyond these actions you couldn't dredge a poor word outta me regararding his term thus far, or anyone that voted for him.

On that note, I'll let you tear it apart and flame on. I'm married, I can take ANY insult you have.
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Old 05-31-2006, 01:39 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Antikarma

My displeasure, and why I stay away from these threads, is people feel the need to come out loud mouthed and swinging, spurting things like "Liberal whining" and "Bias" and I mean, I can see this being two steps away from "Granola chewing marygeewanna smoking hippy motherf****". I love the fact that the political discussions on this board have stayed away from the partisan bickering of the Politics board, and hate to see the fact that this isn't the case here.
Well I'll assume that is directed at me so,.....I'll temper my semantics from here on in. But I'll also send you a pm when the conservatives are called baby killers and racists and when Harper is called an idiot or moron.

Then you can repost similar thoughts for no other reason but to be non-biased
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Old 05-31-2006, 02:53 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by percy
Well I'll assume that is directed at me so,.....I'll temper my semantics from here on in. But I'll also send you a pm when the conservatives are called baby killers and racists and when Harper is called an idiot or moron.

Then you can repost similar thoughts for no other reason but to be non-biased
Absolutely. I don't say this as a personal attack, I just say that too many arguements boil down to "You're a conservative rascist" or "You're a liberal Hippy", OR end up as silly debates on semantics. "You mispelled liberal so your entire opinion is OBVIOUSLY discredited", you know what I mean?

Me and you Percy, we're obviously on seperate ends of the political spectrum, but I'll bet you any money that if we sat down over a beer, we'd agree on more than we disagreed on. Thats the purpose of discussions like these.

I want your opinion. I want everyone's opinion. I just worry that this board will go the way of Tilted Politics, where partisan bias and spelling becomes more important than personal values and opinion.
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