Holy editing error

A couple of unusual things about this newspaper apology. First, it appears on page A1 of the Saint John Telegraph Journal. Second, it goes into some detail about the mechanics behind the story; absolving the reporters of blame and placing  the fault at the feet of the editors. Usually, newspapers claim collective blame for any mistakes (a sometimes infuriating policy for reporters.)

I'm very curious about how comments were included in a story without the reporters' knowledge. That too is unusual, and way beyond ethical.

Telegraph-Journal apologizes to Prime Minister
Published Tuesday July 28th, 2009
A1
Wednesday, July 8, 2009, the Telegraph-Journal published a story about
the funeral mass celebrating the life of former Governor-General Romeo
LeBlanc that was inaccurate and should not have been published. We pride
ourselves in maintaining high standards of journalism and ethical
reporting, and regret this was not followed in this case.

The story stated that a senior Roman Catholic priest in New Brunswick
had demanded that the Prime Minister's Office explain what happened to
the communion wafer which was handed to Prime Minister Harper during the
celebration of communion at the funeral mass. The story also said that
during the communion celebration, the Prime Minister "slipped the thin
wafer that Catholics call 'the host' into his jacket pocket".

There was no credible support for these statements of fact at the time
this article was published, nor is the Telegraph-Journal aware of any
credible support for these statements now. Our reporters Rob Linke and
Adam Huras, who wrote the story reporting on the funeral, did not
include these statements in the version of the story that they wrote. In
the editing process, these statements were added without the knowledge
of the reporters and without any credible support for them.

The Telegraph-Journal sincerely apologizes to the Prime Minister for
the harm that this inaccurate story has caused. We also apologize to
reporters Rob Linke and Adam Huras and to our readers for our failure to
meet our own standards of responsible journalism and accuracy in
reporting.

Liberals lose a legend

Sad news: Jerry Yanover, who served as a senior adviser to every Liberal House leader from 1969 clear through to 2007, has died. 

Yanover probably understood Parliament better than anyone in Ottawa. He had a keen mind and a keen wit and a great appreciation of the way politics spans the gamut from trivial to serious. When Canada found itself with a minority government in 2004, for the first time in 25 years,  I was then bureau chief of The Star, and I invited Yanover to come and have breakfast with us to tell us what we were in for. Whenever I really needed to understand Parliament's intricacies, in fact, I often turned to Jerry.

I am sorry we lost Jerry before he had a chance to write a book of his memoirs. The stories he had... To appreciate him, I'd suggest anyone have a look at this MPTV video (Garth Turner's old web-television production) or a great article by Jane Taber from a couple of years ago (you can find through a Google search; I can't seem to get a good link here.) This part of that interview (see below) looks particularly poignant right now - it was about how Jerry repeatedly wanted to move on, but how he couldn't "walk out on friends." Sadly, he has walked out on many of them with his passing. He will be missed.

He's such a fixture that people have forgotten he is the one who discovered Mamma Teresa Ristorante, the Liberal hang-out in Ottawa. He came across it one night on his way home from work after it had just opened and fell in love with the cannelloni and bechamel sauce.

Over the years, Mr. Yanover has tried to escape but never with any success. Each and every time there is a new government and a new House leader the powers-that-be beg him to stay on just until they get back on their feet.

He was ready to leave in 1972 and "do something else" but when Pierre Trudeau formed only a minority government, Mr. Yanover was enticed to stay on. He was 25. Having won back their majority in 1974, Mr. Yanover figured this was the time to make an exit. He was wrong.

"They asked me to stay because Mitchell didn't [have] that much expertise on procedure and then last summer I though I'd be able to escape and they said, 'Well, it's a minority parliament and we really think you ought to stay.' It's very difficult to walk out on friends, you know."

Women and Politics: The Numbers

Now this is impressive. The dazzling numerical mind behind The Pundits' Guide website  has turned its attention to the urban-rural divide re: women candidates, and has offered us a statistical analysis based on the last five federal elections.  This is, in my opinion, must-read data for any political party that declares itself to be serious about getting more women into Parliament. (Actually, the Pundits' Guide overall is an invaluable resource. Just have a look at the "list of lists" -- a goldmine of data.)

Among the conclusions of this analysis:

 Obviously, if parties are going to meet their commitments to increase the number of women candidates they run, it will be by definition in non-incumbent ridings that will therefore be harder to win. If more women are to be elected in rural ridings, it will either be because retiring Conservative incumbents are replaced by women candidates (as happened for example when Candice Hoeppner replaced Brian Pallister in Portage – Lisgar, MB), or because women candidates from the other parties can win over those seats (although the Conservatives only lost 6 seats overall last time, 2 to women, both urban).

Women and politics

Here's my story in today's paper about the rural frontier and the problem it poses for women's participation in politics.

As always, there's never enough room in the paper to explore all the questions/issues in one mere story, but I should point out that Lisa Merrithew and I also discussed what's keeping women out of the political game.  Beyond the fact that politics looks just plain stupid to many sensible people -- men and women -- Lisa also talked about how potential female politicians are repelled by how their predecessors fared. In too many cases -- Kim Campbell and Sarah Palin, ie -- women find themselves vaulted into high positions because of optics, before they're surrounded by the experience, expertise they need to stay there. (I should say that I wouldn't put Kim Campbell and Sarah Palin in the same sentence that often.)

Sylvia Bashevkin has tackled this topic and others in her new book, reviewed in The Globe today. So if you're interested in the issue, there's lots out there to read and discuss.

It's the old who-speaks-for-Canada question again

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff wants to know why in recent days  we're seeing Ujjal Dosanjh, a former Liberal health minister,  and NDP leader Jack Layton on American TV, defending Canadian health care, and not any members of Harper's government.

Here's what Ignatieff told reporters today at the Kruger paper mill in Gatineau, Que.

"The thing that struck me is why isn’t someone in this government getting up and saying ‘don’t trash the Canadian health care system in the United States.’ Who’s standing up for Canada here?" 

 **

"Don’t drag Canada’s good  name into the mud in the United States. We’ve got enough problems with the United States right now with the buy-American stuff, with the thickening of the border.   But every Canadian is proud of this thing and we don’t like seeing it dragged into the mind and I can’t understand why the Harper government is completely silent on the issue. I won’t be silent." 

Ignatieff sighting

Despite rumours of his disappearance, the Liberal leader is doing an event today in Gatineau, just across the river here in Ottawa, around 12:30 today. He is even taking questions; so that's where I'm headed. News, as warranted, to follow, as they say.

Waiting for the ambassador

Former U.S. ambassador David Wilkins, in his weekly newsletter to friends and associates,  tells us today that we still have a bit more waiting to do for his replacement, David Jacobson, to arrive in Ottawa. The charming South Carolina politician, of course, puts it more colourfully than that:

Sittin' on G Waitin' on O

Ambassador Wilkins successor, Chicago attorney David Jacobson, is "sittin' on G waitin' on O" as we say down South and is more than ready to start his ambassadorial duties up North.  As Jacobson told Wilkins recently over dinner in Washington, he and his wife are excited and eager to get to work in Canada.   But first he must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. 

With the Senate slated to recess the first week of August and his hearing yet to be scheduled, the Jacobsons - and Canada - may find a much anticipated move not happening until September.  Hopefully, there will be some movement in the next few weeks.

Buckler's back

It looks like Sandra Buckler, Harper's former communications director, is coming back to Parliament Hill. Not much has been heard from Buckler since she left... She did turn up a few months ago in  the Citizen, in the photo shown here on the right, and also on Frank Klees' leadership campaign in Ontario.

Word is that she'll be chief of staff to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq. Or Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan.  We'll keep you posted when we get confirmation of her destination. But she is returning to the Harper government's employ.

Harper's gift to Hudak

The new chief of staff to Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak  -- Lynette Corbett -- comes   from Harper's PMO Natural Resource Minister Lisa Raitt's office.  I guess that's only fair -- Harper's chief of staff, Guy Giorno, came from Queen's Park. 

Corbett only went to work for Raitt weeks ago (here's the news in The Hill Times),  shortly after Raitt lost Jasmine MacDonell, her communications person in that spot of bother about the missing tape recorder.

Here's the announcement, sent out today.

Dear Colleagues,

 

As we work together to defeat Dalton McGuinty in just two short years, it is vitally important that we put in place a team and a plan that will get us to our goal.  We have a tremendous amount of work to do between now and 2011.  However, with the strong foundation of our talented and experienced caucus, all PC Caucus staff and our newly energized membership base, I know we will succeed in forming Government and starting the important task of leading

Ontario

on a new course to prosperity.  Today, I am thrilled to announce the appointment of two key members of our team.   

 

Following an extensive search, I am pleased to announce that Lynette Corbett has accepted the position of Chief of Staff and Carrie Kormos is joining us as Principal Secretary in the Leader’s Office.  We need experienced and skilled people leading our team toward the election in 2011 and these appointments reflect the important work ahead of us. 

 

Lynette joins us from Ottawa where she held senior management roles including Director of Strategy and the Director of Policy to the Prime Minister of Canada, and Chief of Staff to the Federal Ministers of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  She holds an M.A. in Political Science and an L.L.B. from the

University

of

Western Ontario

. Prior to her political career, Lynette worked as an associate at McArthur Vereschagin and Brown LLP, specializing in management side labour and employment law.  She also has extensive campaign experience federally with the central campaign team and has worked locally in my riding during provincial elections.  Her skills will be a great asset to our election readiness efforts.  Lynette will assume her duties at the end of July.

 

As Chief of Staff, Lynette will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Leader’s Office, in addition to overseeing PC Research and Services.  Lynette will also work closely with Caucus Members and their staff.

 

Layton to appear on MSNBC

For two consecutive days this week, former health minister Ujjal Dosanjh was on CNN, defending the Canadian health-care system. Tonight, around 6:30 p.m., the New Democratic Party leader will be talking up medicare  on MSNBC's Ed Shultz show. 

Perhaps I've missed it, but have there been any Conservative-government representatives doing the same thing on the American airwaves? Is our current health minister unavailable?  Perhaps the government should hire some U.S. communications folks to get Harper and others some spots on American networks. Oh wait. They already have.