Harper restricts ministers' message

Harper restricts ministers' message
Officials urged to stick to five key priorities; PMO wants to vet all other public comment

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has imposed central control over all information and comments to the public issued by government officials and even cabinet ministers, directing them to have everything cleared by the Prime Minister's Office, according to an internal e-mail and government sources.

The orders, described in an e-mail to bureaucrats, indicate that ministers have been told to avoid talking about the direction of the government, and that the government wants them to be less accessible to the news media. And all government officials are instructed to avoid speaking about anything other than the five priorities outlined in the Conservative campaign.

Government officials and Conservatives confirmed the instructions, including orders that the PMO clear all public communications — including minor comments and letters to local newspapers.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, who suggested some Canadian aid might flow to the Palestinian Authority despite the recently elected Hamas majority, reversed course the next day.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060317.wxpmo17/BNStory/National/home

understand why he's doing it. Some of his ministers are complete crackpots (like the ever-popular Stockwell Day), so I'm not surprised he want's to control what crap they say to the media.

Of course, the other solution would have been to NOT MAKE SUCH MORONS MINISTERS, ASSHOLE!

:banghead:

This man is like a walking fulfilled prophecy. Everything people like us (and other enlightened individuals) have said about this fuck from day one, is coming true. We knew he was like this, that's why we didn't vote for him. Well, that's one reason. The man is a complete control freak, a micromanager of the worst kind. This is of course to say nothing of his politics, which leave so much to be desired as we all know. Pop the frickin' popcorn I say, sit back, and watch this POS and his gang of yahoos implode over the coming months. Can't wait for parliament to be in session again. Now that should be entertaining.

The Tory backbenchers will love this guy...open, honest government!

The man's hypocrisy is breath-taking.

His democratic renewal was to include more power for all MPs, even back-benchers. That was a fundamental plank of the Reform Party platform, and the Conservative Party promised to stick to that. His election platform prominently featured democratic renewal, and criticized the Liberals for being insufficiently sensitive to MPs.

Now, even cabinet ministers have to ask teacher if they can speak. Chretien was accused of being a bit autocratic, but he didn't do this.

if you saw it, you would not be surprised at the fact that he is a major control freak. According to what Harper had done up till that time, he would not stay with anything unless things were done exactly as he wanted them to be done. When things were not to his liking, he would just quit whatever it was and go on to something else. The man is a dictator disguising himself as a democrat. IMO....

no way he'll ever get reelected though, he's being waaay too heavy handed. the rank and file are not likely too amused by his shenanigans.