Fortunata Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 The Prime Minister's Office has been secretly working on plans to build a government-controlled briefing room, which would supplant the current National Press Theatre.The plan, with an estimated cost of $2 million, has been in the works since at least last year, reveal documents obtained by the Toronto Star under the Access to Information Act. .. The "dedicated press availability facility" is part of plans to "put in place robust physical and information security measures to protect the Prime Minister and Cabinet," stated one document obtained by the newspaper. The National Press Theatre is operated by members of the parliamentary press gallery, meaning the prime minister has no control over who is asking questions. Until an impromptu press conference earlier this month, Harper had never used the theatre since being elected 20 months ago. Harper has had a sometimes frosty relationship with the national press corps, stemming from his staff's tight control over news conferences and lack of accessibility to MPs and cabinet ministers. The new facility could impose even stricter measures, giving the PMO control over who may enter and possibly what gets filmed and broadcast. ...news cameras could be controlled by government employees instead of independent media journalists, reports the Star. Many details of the project were blacked-out or withheld because of "international affairs and defence," "security," and cabinet confidentiality. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories Just because Steve is not controlling enough. Quote
Shakeyhands Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 what a waste of money. Quote "They muddy the water, to make it seem deep." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Newfie Canadian Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 what a waste of money. I agree, but it begs the question from someone like me, why wasn't it done long ago? Harper has a testy relationship with the press, but he's hardly the first PM to have a dislike for them. Either he's taking it to a new level, or there's something else... Who knows? The problem is if he wants to do it, who's going to stop him? The press will still go there to cover anything important, and I suspect it is the prerogative of the Om to hold news conferences wherever he wants. Quote "If you don't believe your country should come before yourself, you can better serve your country by livin' someplace else." Stompin' Tom Connors
old_bold&cold Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 While I may curl my tongue at the cost of this, I do see it as being a better way for the government to handle the press and yes it means that things will not be as open to critism at the time of announcements, but it does then make for more thoughtful questions and answers at later gatherings, in stead of the raw edged gut reactions. Is it a form of Media control? Of course, but that is the right of the PM to choose this, and the press will just have to get used to it, as Harper will be around for quite some time to come. Quote
M.Dancer Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStoriesJust because Steve is not controlling enough. When did the CTV start reporting old old news? Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
Shakeyhands Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 (edited) When did the CTV start reporting old old news? Old news? I can almost see how the room will be set up... right down to the lapel pin folks. Edited October 15, 2007 by Shakeyhands Quote "They muddy the water, to make it seem deep." - Friedrich Nietzsche
M.Dancer Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 Old news? The story leaked months ago. Another poster on another board suggested this was a nefarious plot, that the conservatives would be manufacturing news items ..etc etc..... The plan, with an estimated cost of $2 million, has been in the works since at least last year Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
Higgly Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 (edited) While I may curl my tongue at the cost of this, I do see it as being a better way for the government to handle the press and yes it means that things will not be as open to critism at the time of announcements, but it does then make for more thoughtful questions and answers at later gatherings, in stead of the raw edged gut reactions. Is it a form of Media control? Of course, but that is the right of the PM to choose this, and the press will just have to get used to it, as Harper will be around for quite some time to come. A better way for the government to handle the press? When the government starts handling the press, it will be handling what the electorate knows. Screw that! George W Bush did this. Look what you got. Edited October 15, 2007 by Higgly Quote "We have seen the enemy and he is us!". Pogo (Walt Kelly).
jennie Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 A better way for the government to handle the press? When the government starts handling the press, it will be handling what the electorate knows.Screw that! George W Bush did this. Look what you got. Agreed. Harper is certainly confirming the concerns of those who fear his single-minded quest for absolute authority over Canadians. Scary scary stuff, imo! Quote If you are claiming a religious exemption from the hate law, please say so up front. If you have no religious exemption, please keep hateful thoughts to yourself. Thank you. MY Canada includes Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Michael Bluth Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 Agreed. Harper is certainly confirming the concerns of those who fear his single-minded quest for absolute authority over Canadians. Wow? Absolute authority over Canadians. At the pace he's been going he'll finish his quest by the time he's 328. If he lives that long. Quote No one has ever defeated the Liberals with a divided conservative family. - Hon. Jim Prentice
M.Dancer Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 Wow? Absolute authority over Canadians.At the pace he's been going he'll finish his quest by the time he's 328. If he lives that long. Bugger called my at 7:00 Am this morning....said I had to wait till 7:30 to take a shower...... Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
Michael Bluth Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 Bugger called my at 7:00 Am this morning....said I had to wait till 7:30 to take a shower...... That is yet another step in Harper's single-minded quest for absolute authority over all Canadians. I think this was called operation Shower Time Organizer. Quote No one has ever defeated the Liberals with a divided conservative family. - Hon. Jim Prentice
jdobbin Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 what a waste of money. That was my thought exactly. Just more money in a spending spree. Quote
Canuck E Stan Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 That was my thought exactly. Just more money in a spending spree. Yes,you're right,but pittance compared to..... $500 million to cancel a helicopter deal $900 million for dry dock subs $100 million on new luxury jets $1 billion boondoggle by Human Resources Development Canada Quote "Any man under 30 who is not a liberal has no heart, and any man over 30 who is not a conservative has no brains." — Winston Churchill
scribblet Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 Bugger called my at 7:00 Am this morning....said I had to wait till 7:30 to take a shower...... dammit, he just called and said I have to get off this computer amd get dinner...sheez he's so controlling. Guess Chretien never was though Considering how the press has treated the conservatives he's doing the right thing by handling the press this way. Can't let em out there to make things up all the time, heavens they do it enough allready. Quote Hey Ho - Ontario Liberals Have to Go - Fight Wynne - save our province
M.Dancer Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 dammit, he just called and said I have to get off this computer amd get dinner...sheez he's so controlling. Guess Chretien never was thoughConsidering how the press has treated the conservatives he's doing the right thing by handling the press this way. Can't let em out there to make things up all the time, heavens they do it enough allready. Putting the presscorps in a foul mood is not a winning strategy. If you don't help the media write what they have to, they will write what they want to, if you get my drift. Harper's old strategy of muzzling his people meant that instead of getting answers to question they had to dig for answers....and if you were a news handler, would you wnat a reporter sniffing for answers that they may get wrong (and paint your party in the worst light)? ...years ago when I worked for a national business paper, clients would ask, how do I get a story in the paper (they were looking for a handjob)...I would say, do something newsworthy. No no they would say, how about a profile. I would say we don't do that but we do have a young lady who looks like Mike Wallace and specializes in forensic accounting.....would you like her to come by? Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
Argus Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 A better way for the government to handle the press? When the government starts handling the press, it will be handling what the electorate knows. You're kidding right? Governments have been "Handling" the press for decades. All governments. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Argus Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 Putting the presscorps in a foul mood is not a winning strategy. If you don't help the media write what they have to, they will write what they want to, if you get my drift. Harper has long ago decided the national press, based in Toronto, are intrinsically hostile to his party and their aims, and that the national press cannot be relied on to present anything about the Conservatives with anything approaching honesty or integrity. Imho, that's not very far wrong. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
old_bold&cold Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 I disagree that the government should not control the press to some degree. In this senario the cameras will be taking pictures and distribute them and it will stop the ones where they wait for someone to rub their nose or an embarassing moment. to catch them off guard. This will be better and yes it will make for better newspeople. Not everything has to be taken to its most extreme meaning. Just as the press does not have to send people to catch those moments which we all have, and put them beyond the reach of those yellow jounalists, who will then actually have to work to get the story and their comments to it. Why is the pres always whining like a pathetic child, who does not get their way. You are supposed to be adults who have jobs reporting news. So do your job and do it with dignity, and you will find that nothing will bite you for it. You know Harper can if he wishes just let news releases come from one press secretary source, and never be available at all. He does make himself available to people who conduct themselves in a quality manner. If all you are doing is yellow jounalism, then why would he or should he ever let you into the room. Behave and there will be no problem. I do not ever see Harper get mad if a reporter takes a different side. But if the reporter then takes what was said and skews it to their own purpose, I do not think it bad, that he never speaks to that reporter again. It is his choice. Quote
jdobbin Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 (edited) Yes,you're right,but pittance compared to.....$500 million to cancel a helicopter deal $900 million for dry dock subs $100 million on new luxury jets $1 billion boondoggle by Human Resources Development Canada Yup, large wastes of money. And the Tories with $700 million to Via Rail, billions for slushbreakers that won't really be able to travel north except when it is ice free and tens of millions for a new hall for the PMO to entertain are a continuation of that practice. Edited October 15, 2007 by jdobbin Quote
jdobbin Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 Putting the presscorps in a foul mood is not a winning strategy. If you don't help the media write what they have to, they will write what they want to, if you get my drift. I think you got that right. If the media are denied access or access is controlled, they will report from the outside and the message will be a government that is non-responsive. Quote
Alexandra Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStoriesJust because Steve is not controlling enough. From the above CTV article: "A spokeswoman from the Privy Council Office told CP that the exploratory project had been abandoned at an "early stage." She added that there are no other locations being scouted for a media facility. But Sandra Buckler, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of communications, told The Canadian Press "there are no plans to pursue'' such a centre." http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/266854But concept drawings and preliminary cost estimates were to be completed by last December. The lead story of the Toronto Star does not report just when this new media center is now to open. If the concept drawings, cost estimates, etc. were to be completed a year ago for this building why has construction not begun yet? The Toronto Star staff has refused to answer this rather innocuous question. Probably because there is/will not be a new media center controlled by the PMO. ` Quote
Canuck E Stan Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 I think you got that right. If the media are denied access or access is controlled, they will report from the outside and the message will be a government that is non-responsive. Douglas Fisher the "Dean" of the press gallery made this observation about the press gallery. Douglas Fisher, a longtime columnist, observer of Canadian politics and one-time Member of Parliament, spoke to the Hill Times upon his retirement at the age of 86. Included was a cutting observation about the Parliamentary Press Gallery, an organization that lately has attempted to hold the Prime Minister to account for his relative lack of media access: “…The Parliamentary Press Gallery is a device that was created in order to ration in access and limit the reporting of politics on Parliament Hill in an ordered way. That’s the way I’ve always looked upon the Parliamentary Press Gallery. The gallery as a collective hasn’t any real function journalistically relating to what you might call ‘the profession.’ It’s just a device or an organization that enables the speaker and the government of the day to have a fairly normal and ordered relationship. So it’s not something, it’s not a collective of professional people who are carrying out or living up to any particular professional crude. [credo? sp.] …” Quote "Any man under 30 who is not a liberal has no heart, and any man over 30 who is not a conservative has no brains." — Winston Churchill
jdobbin Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 But Sandra Buckler, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of communications, told The Canadian Press "there are no plans to pursue'' such a centre." It looks like the optics of building a press gallery where the press might choose not to come was something that the PMO didn't want. Perhaps they remembered how Stockwell Day used to duck the scrum and go to a press room where the media often didn't go. CBC and CTV used to show a wide angle of the empty room. Quote
jdobbin Posted October 15, 2007 Report Posted October 15, 2007 (edited) Douglas Fisher the "Dean" of the press gallery made this observation about the press gallery. I wasn't referring to the Ottawa Press Gallery but to the media in general. Edited October 15, 2007 by jdobbin Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.