Conservative Lock Down on information – Talking Points only – Get with the program
With a majority Govt PM Harper can expect to see more bad news making it to the press. Some will come from the new Backbenchers frustrated with the "Talking Points Regime" as directed from the PMO.
With radical changes in the Crimes Bills where a Rapist, Child Molester receives less time in jail that someone with 6 pot plants. That is a recipe for disaster for the Govt. Much the same way the revised Pardon Rules, changed under Harper blew up with Olsen and his Pension, others that had names changes and were no longer listed. Other that had committed sexual assault on Children receiving Pardons. Harper's so called outrage was literally pure BS, his Govt approved the changes. The Govt clearly did not have clear direction and focused changes were not the priority. It was playing to the base emotional response of the Voter.
There will be leaks from all levels, keeping such a tight regime as mentioned in the accompanying article will lead to major blow back from people with access to all sorts of bad news.
Veteran DND public affairs staff quitting over interference: report | News | National Post
But at the same time there has been an exodus of experienced military public affairs officers, with more than 30% of the organization’s senior officers leaving in the last two years, according to a 2010-2011 strategic assessment produced by the office of Josee Touchette, assistant deputy minister for public affairs. The document was obtained by the Citizen.
This year alone 12 public affairs officers have left, defence sources say. Two senior civilian public servants have also left the branch in recent weeks.
Some of the retired officers told the Citizen they became fed up with the excessive controls on information brought in by the Harper government. Most communication with the media these days is done through emailed statements or “talking points” which must be approved by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The focus is not to promote the men and women in uniform, say retired and serving public affairs staff, but to protect the government from embarrassment. There is also a large amount of political interference, they add, with Conservative staff often berating uniformed personnel for not keeping a lid on unflattering news stories.
With a majority Govt PM Harper can expect to see more bad news making it to the press. Some will come from the new Backbenchers frustrated with the "Talking Points Regime" as directed from the PMO.
With radical changes in the Crimes Bills where a Rapist, Child Molester receives less time in jail that someone with 6 pot plants. That is a recipe for disaster for the Govt. Much the same way the revised Pardon Rules, changed under Harper blew up with Olsen and his Pension, others that had names changes and were no longer listed. Other that had committed sexual assault on Children receiving Pardons. Harper's so called outrage was literally pure BS, his Govt approved the changes. The Govt clearly did not have clear direction and focused changes were not the priority. It was playing to the base emotional response of the Voter.
There will be leaks from all levels, keeping such a tight regime as mentioned in the accompanying article will lead to major blow back from people with access to all sorts of bad news.
Veteran DND public affairs staff quitting over interference: report | News | National Post
But at the same time there has been an exodus of experienced military public affairs officers, with more than 30% of the organization’s senior officers leaving in the last two years, according to a 2010-2011 strategic assessment produced by the office of Josee Touchette, assistant deputy minister for public affairs. The document was obtained by the Citizen.
This year alone 12 public affairs officers have left, defence sources say. Two senior civilian public servants have also left the branch in recent weeks.
Some of the retired officers told the Citizen they became fed up with the excessive controls on information brought in by the Harper government. Most communication with the media these days is done through emailed statements or “talking points” which must be approved by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The focus is not to promote the men and women in uniform, say retired and serving public affairs staff, but to protect the government from embarrassment. There is also a large amount of political interference, they add, with Conservative staff often berating uniformed personnel for not keeping a lid on unflattering news stories.
