Why is the PMO playing politics?

[cybercoma]

You don't see a problem with the PMO acting like an advocacy group?

[Guest Derek L]

Ya ... no problem ... So why is the PMO sending out a nasty 'infoalert'?

Harper and his twenty-teen political hacks (paid by the taxpayer) need to grow up.

As E May says:

This PMO spends more on “information officers” than any previous PMO.  Talk about abuse of taxpayers’ dollars; this bunch spends $10 million/year in shadowy political operatives and “Info Alerts.”

It's an attitude problem, Derek.

If Harper wants to deliver his pipelines, (doubtful) he might have to learn some diplomacy, something we expect of a PM anyway.

So far, he's adopted the schoolyard bully stance and smear tactics, and it's not going down well with Canadians. It's interfering with progress and solutions ... not that I care if he blows it!

But frankly, Harper's just not very people-smart.

So this is just a case of PM Harper, and by extension, the PMO being bullies? Even though, as demonstrated above by ForestEthics, it’s having little effect? So again, what’s the problem?

[Guest Derek L]

You don't see a problem with the PMO acting like an advocacy group?

Nope, not at all.....Would it be different with a Liberal or NDP Government?

Are you surprised that a political party is partisan and that it supports it’s own platform/agenda?

[jacee]

So this is just a case of PM Harper, and by extension, the PMO being bullies? Even though, as demonstrated above by ForestEthics, it’s having little effect? So again, what’s the problem?

It's a problem for Harper as he's not getting public support for his projects.

It's not a problem for me.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

It's a problem for Harper as he's not getting public support for his projects.

It's not a problem for me.

I must disagree. I believe that Harper is using the PMO as the Canadian version of a Ministry of Propaganda. This is not the first such manifestation and it will not be the last. That Harper has any public support at all is still an amazing thing. You need a playbook to follow all the political flip flops this man who never worked a day in his life has made in his very well published public life.

In an answer to the title question, its because he can. He is working within the confines of both historical and more current precedents. The citizens should understand that the PMO is the real government of Canada, and that office is very well funded and very well empowered. There are damned few things that come out of the PMO that either cabinet or the entire partisan caucus do not promote. The real power of this nation is actually confined to the PMO. The day to day operation of government is supervised from there.

[jacee]

I must disagree. I believe that Harper is using the PMO as the Canadian version of a Ministry of Propaganda. This is not the first such manifestation and it will not be the last. That Harper has any public support at all is still an amazing thing. You need a playbook to follow all the political flip flops this man who never worked a day in his life has made in his very well published public life.

In an answer to the title question, its because he can. He is working within the confines of both historical and more current precedents. The citizens should understand that the PMO is the real government of Canada, and that office is very well funded and very well empowered. There are damned few things that come out of the PMO that either cabinet or the entire partisan caucus do not promote. The real power of this nation is actually confined to the PMO. The day to day operation of government is supervised from there.

I agree with everything you've said, and let me clarify my statements above:

The political attacks emanating from the PMO are disgusting to Canadians in general, and that is increasing public opposition to pipeline/oil sands projects that Harper is pushing.

And it doesn't bother me a bit that Harper's shooting himself in the foot, because I oppose those projects too.

He's making it more likely the pipeline, eg, will fail because he's alienating people and thus increasing both political and financial support for those who oppose the pipeline.

And that's fine with me!

[g_bambino]

There are damned few things that come out of the PMO that either cabinet or the entire partisan caucus do not promote. The real power of this nation is actually confined to the PMO. The day to day operation of government is supervised from there.

Ummmm... So what? While power has become more concentrated in the PMO over the past 40-50 years, what you seemingly complain about is essentially the way it's been for three centuries. Why is it now suddenly a problem because Harper is prime minister?

[fellowtraveller]

In Economic Action Plan 2012, our Government announced that charities would be required to be more transparent and more accountable to Canadians when it comes to their activities. But this was all too much for at least one radical organization who today announced the creation of a stand-alone group devoted entirely to political advocacy.

I don't understand your most recent outrage.

Is it not the govts duty to us as taxpayers to ensure that purportedly charitable organizations are actually charities?

When faced with increased scrutiny of that aspect of their operations, this group has volunatarily folded their tent and gone 100% political.

The only questions will be to determione if their activities are now taxable, and if their past actions were criminal..