Taking the Hill

The Parliamentary Press Gallery continues its war with the sparkling new Prime Minister's Office which has clamped down on photo opps, scrums news releases and other forms of the fodder and filler of political coverage.

Last Friday, the PPG's executive took a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Director of Communications Sandra Buckler to iron out differences. But, from the sound of things, there are many new wrinkles in how the Harperites and the Hacks will interact with each other.

Or not interact with each other.

Present were the PPG president Emmanuelle Latraverse, Stephanie Rubec (candidate for the presidency next year), treasurer Isabelle Rodrigue, Terry Guillon Chief of the Press Gallery and John Waterfield Manager of the Press Gallery. Buckler was accompanied by Stéphane Rondeau, Geneviève Desjardins, as well as Christine Csversko.

Here is an excerpt of a note to PPG members from their exec today, which sums up how badly it went:

In the course of our short meeting, the PMO indicated that:

·    They are considering no longer announcing Cabinet meetings to Canadians ahead of time in order to circumvent the Gallery’s right to post cameras and reporters on the third floor of the Parliament’s Centre Block (as per our understanding with the House);

·    They reserve the right not to inform Canadians of the visit of foreign heads of state;

·    They will no longer systematically grant access to a pool reporter at photo opportunities between the Prime Ministers and his guests.

The Executive came out of this meeting greatly concerned by the tone on the part of the PM’s staff which left no room for negotiations on these issues. Therefore we put an end to the meeting after approximately 20 minutes as we felt no progress was being achieved. Many issues were left unresolved, many more were not even addressed.

I have the transcript of the meeting which is way too long to post here. But here's a bit.

Emmanuelle Latraverse: There’s also concerns about the issue of photo ops and the prime minister meeting with heads of state such as (Haitian Prime Minister Gerard) Latortue a few weeks ago, the week I was away, and premiers like (Manitoba premier) Gary Doer and the press not having a chance.

Sandra Buckler: Gary Doer didn’t ask for a photo op so there was one -- there wasn’t. 

Emmanuelle Latraverse: And what about Mr. Latortue where people found out that a head of state had been on an official visit ---

Sandra Buckler: I can’t remember that one.

Emmanuelle Latraverse: An official visit to Ottawa after he’d left the country. 

Sandra Buckler: Yeah, I can’t remember that one, I’m sorry.  I just know that Gary Doer didn’t ask for a photo op. 

Stephanie Rubec:  The Haitian president, you don’t remember his visit?

Sandra Buckler:  Not off the top of my head. That was probably day three or day four for me so I can’t recall that one. 

Stephanie Rubec: Is there no -- we would like to see an advisory of a public schedule.  Two heads of state meeting is a public event, not a private we’re going to have tea at my house event.  It’s a public event.  Why can we not get heads up that they’re in town, even if there’s no photo op, that they’re meeting and that there will not be a photo op?

Sandra Buckler: I think every meeting is sort of on a case by case basis. Not sure -- if it’s a private meeting, it’s a private meeting.  If it’s a public meeting, it’s a public meeting. 

Isabelle Rodrigue: What is a private or a public meeting? What’s the difference?

Stephanie Rubec: If you’re discussing issues of the country and not your kid’s hockey game it’s not a private meeting. 

Sandra Buckler: I’m not going to prejudge what happens in advance of a meeting between two people. 

Isabelle Rodrigue: What is a private meeting?

Sandra Buckler: It could be just a courtesy call, could be very quick, maybe unscheduled. I can’t really say.  I know that we’re, you know, trying to be as open and as accountable as possible but if some people don’t want a photo op, we’re not going to force a photo op.

Emmanuelle Latraverse: Yeah, but the concern is that you don’t want one.

Sandra Buckler: I wouldn’t agree with that statement. 

Isabelle Rodrigue: There’s a practice in several places where there is a weekly schedule, general schedule of activities, event of PM, it’s the case in New Brunswick, Washington. Do you intend to look at the possibility of doing this?. 

Sandra Buckler: I couldn’t tell you.

Stephanie Rubec: Because you don’t know?  Because you don’t want to say?  Why can’t you tell us?

Sandra Buckler: Because I don’t know.

In fairness, maybe the PMO still hasn't got it together yet. But, considering how tightly directed the Conservatives' communications strategy has been throughout the campaign and since the election, that's not likely. It looks like this government is going to manage, massage and manipulate every single message that gets out there.

Comments

[Bill-Muskoka]

Photo Op? Oh pleeeeeease. They are totally meaningless. They say nothing, tell the public NOTHING! They are a poor journalistic escape for actual reporting of meaningful dialogue. Sorry, but the PMO wins this round with me.

You want a picture to publish? Catch some politician getting a hand job from a Hooker!

It would give a whole new meaning to the term 'Handout'!

Note to Ottawa Press Corps! Get off your lazy petards, drop the Tim Bits, and Double Doubles, and go do your friggin' job!

Photo Op my arse! Oh, never mind. No one reads your worthless rhetoric anyway! Head back to Timmy's gang!

*GAWD! Its like a parent coming home to house of teenagers! I want THIS. I want THAT! Parent is thinking 'What have you done to earn anything? Certainly not the chores you were asked to do'*

[Robert McClelland]

"It looks like this government is going to manage, massage and manipulate every single message that gets out there."

Yup. The question though, is what is our media going to do about it? I have little faith that they'll do anything but grumble for a bit before accepting their new roles as lapdogs. I mean, look at what Wells did when he got the runaround from the new Conservative government. He stormed off in a huff and started bellyaching about Belarus. So as you can see, it's not looking good already.

[nps]

Of all people Harper and his PMO want to f--- with is the media. This is gonna be fun to watch and read about........

If Harper wants to hide like Osama Bin Laden one should possibly be afraid of the kinds of activities he is up to in that cave of an office. When our government doesn't want to deal with the media they do not want to deal with the people that listen/read it either so why do we need Harper again? I think the media should just go on without him. Act as though we have no PM if that is what he wants.

[MA]

Sounds to me like the Press Gallery is a little nervous about their long-term job security.

[Mervin Hollingsworth]

Perhaps the press gallery should take a pill. The prime minister needs to be treated with respect. These silly scrums after cabinet and caucus meetings is a disgrace and the public doesn't learn anything except how the reporters ask gotcha questions and the MPs look like deer caught in the headlights. I believe Mr. Harper is attempting to bring respect back to the office of Prime Minister and Parliament. You guys act like a pack of wolves all under the guise that it is the public's right to know and it is not becoming. Do you think the Canadian people worry about this crap? Not likely. The press gallery should stop bellyaching and work to develop their stories without having to rely on spin which the liberals were quick to provide. If you start acting like adults maybe the PMO would treat you better.

[Oracle Of Ottawa]

It's worrisome and disappointing when the Prime Minister's Communications Director "forgets" the visit from the head of state (Haiti)from which our current Governor General originates ....

I just shake my head at the thought of the PMO making excuses for that one....

[tablogloid]

I can't believe they never considered the optics of this "I don't know,it depends" communications strategy.
Please Ms. Buckler, may I take a picture of your boss? Ohhh pretty please?

[sooey]

hm... sandra buckler should write down what she wants to say BEFORE she meets the press. ... ... ... hey! maybe "scott and scott" could help!

[JL]

What is the concern here? That the Canadian media may have to actually research stories, dig for sources, and produce quality material rather than focus on the type of fluff the Liberals handed them for years?

Give me a break.

[Antonia]

CP has a story about more trouble on the Hill:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060327/pmo_media_060327/20060327?hub=Canada&s_name=

"OTTAWA — Security on Parliament Hill barred reporters from attending a pair of Stephen Harper photo opportunities Monday as the Prime Ministers Office flexed its media messaging muscles.

"The made-for-TV confrontation between security and reporters outside Harper's office door graphically illustrated the deteriorating relations between a PMO seeking total message control and news media defending their hard-won access."

[Antonia]

Oh, and just for the record, here's a release that Buckler put out for a photo opp -- five minutes after the photo opp was to take place. More details in the above cited CP story.

Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 10:35:23 -0500
From: PMO
Subject: Notice
To: ALLNEWS_E@LSERV.PMO-CPM.GC.CA

Prime Minister to hold photo opportunities

March 27, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister will be presented daffodils from children who are battling cancer, on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society, today in the Prime Minister's office.

When:
Monday, March 27
at 10:30 a.m. (EST)

Where:
Prime Minister's Office, third floor, Centre Block

(Photo opportunity only)

****

Prime Minister will meet with Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia today in the Prime Minister's office.

When:
Monday, March 27
at 11:00 a.m. (EST)

Where:
Prime Minister's Office, third floor, Centre Block

(Photo opportunity only)

Maybe if the press gallery actually took the time to learn that the PM isn't Head of State, the PMO would have more faith in their ability accurately report things.

[ALW]

Oh no! No photo ops! Democracy has been undermined! Panic in the streets!

If this is the largest crisis this government is going to have to weather, then Harper is in great shape.

[Observer]

The MSM are anti-Harper, anti-Conservative, pro-Liberal ... and that is a proven reality. I commend Harper for isolating the Liberal MSM and giving them nothing to chew on other than their complaints.

There are new tenants in the Government of Canada, and the MSM had better get used to that fact, because their Liberal-biased credibility is somewhat tattered too.

[Robert McClelland]

"These silly scrums after cabinet and caucus meetings is a disgrace and the public doesn't learn anything except how the reporters ask gotcha questions and the MPs look like deer caught in the headlights."

These silly scrums, as you call them, enable journalists to catch our politicians outside of their crafted message bubble and expose the real intent of what they're up to. Maybe you prefer scripted media events, but I don't, and I'm sure many other Canadians don't either.

[Hank from Barrie]

The PMO may want to reconsider this policy. It's much easier to control the media when you feed them the information directly. The last thing he really wants is a ticked off mass media doing their own dirt digging. Lord knows what will be dug up now. He may regret this one in the end....something about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.

[The mark of Zorro]

Considering the personal insults, crap, and general derision sent Harper's way via the PPG this is a little payback and its sure a bitch to the press gallery.

They all need to grow up and do proper journalism for a change. No more talking points for you to regurgitate. No more spinning Liberal stories into bad press for Harper.

By the way Zerb, where's Keith Boag? On holidays or did he get punted when Martin's cabal left?

[Peter Wilson]

Perhaps Steven Harper is leery of encounters with Rick Mercer.... then again, he could be seeing Jenny Craig!

[W. A. Coppin]

As others have suggested, the Harper "policy" does two things: 1. provides the press with more time to actually engage in some investigative reporting and 2. reveals the Harper government's contempt for Canadians' 'right to know'. It seems to me that these two policies mesh together quite nicely. To the press I say - grow a spine, boycott the PMO and start digging for the scandal and corruption that is surely lurking just below the surface. The PM campaigned on a platform calling for, among other things, more open government. I say to the press, give it us! Pry this government open like a can of sardines. Sure the job will stink a bit but eventually you get used to it. A leader is only a leader as long as folks agree to follow... so stop following for crying out loud! Leave the Hill and get the real goods. You may even find that Canadians might actually start paying attention to your reporting again. Now excuse me, please. I simply must get back to some real news sources on the internet.

[Jay Currie]

What is remarkable is that the PPG would be in the position of being told when and where it gets access to the Prime Minister. Not because the PMO is at fault, rather because the PPG have become so cloying that it apparently does not occur to them to actually go and dig.

To take one simple example: apparently the PMO has told all Ministers to clear all statements with the PMO. What would be interesting is to systematically ask Ministers of the Crown if they are allowed to comment on matters of direct concern to their Ministry. If the answer is yes, then ask a question which directly concerns the Ministry. But if the answer is no, ask - "do you have day to day political responsibility for your ministry?"

For much too long the Liberal loving National media were treated like camp followers - in the historic sense of that term - by Liberal PMOs. The Tories are doing nothing different they are merely taking advantage of the servile nature of a badly beaten press corpse.

If the PPG can bring itself to ignore the injunctions of the reigning PM Press secretary and, on an ongoing basis, simply not bother with obviously staged "photo ops" they will be doing themselves and Canadians a great service.

After all, we only have a Presidential Prime Ministership because backbench MPs and,now, Cabinet Ministers are such losers that they are unwilling to tell the unelected folks in the PMO to mind their manners. And we only have media spin because the goofs in the Parliamentary Press Gallery are willing to interview the spinners.

[JFD]

This is pretty illuminating. In the long run, it'll be good for the press gallery: they'll stop eating the easy story (photo-ops, 2 or 3 minute "questioning" of cabinet ministers) and start doing some investigative journalism again. Cabinet ministers will have to talk to the press if they want their point to be heard. It'll just require the gallery to get off their duffs and do real journalism for a change.

[CapitalCat]

Gee, Observer, who proved your "reality" that the MSM is pro-Grit. If you read the editorials of most of the major papers you would notice that the vast majority endorsed the Conservatives in the last election. The coverage was much more anti-Martin than anti-Harper.

Given that one of the Gallery's longtime members just resigned to become Peter MacKay's press secretary, I have my doubts that the Gallery is any more definable politically than any other large body of people. When I was a member, there were people who were clearly known to be Tories (including at least one card-carrier), Grits, New Democrats, Pequistes (the Bloc didn't exist then) and a handful of Communists (most from Iron Curtain countries but one fellow traveller from Canada).

Whenever the tin-hat brigade start screaming about left-wing bias in the media, I ask them to provide names. Jeff Simpson? Mike Duffy? Doug Fisher? Not bleeding likely!

What the Harperites are doing is common when a government changes over. Within a few weeks or months, they'll discover that it is unworkable and a new system will evolve.

[Mo]

Who was it that said, "Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel?"

(this is a semi-serious question - I thought it was H.L. Mencken or Will Rodgers, and had something to do with Randolph Hearst, but a quick web search was inconclusive, suggesting also Twain, Wilde, & others)

[jim king]

Don't worry people. Paul Wells will get some more views of Peewee's littered desk through the office window one of these days and report back about how hard he's working. No problem!