A PM of few words

Two interviews. That's it. In past years, the Prime Minister of Canada has done a raft of end-of-year TV interviews, which are then shown to Hill journalists  in the theatre downstairs here in the National Press Building (complete with popcorn). Usually, it takes the better part of the day to view all of the interviews and then write up the various stories coming out of them.  Mindful of our time concerns, perhaps, Harper has given just two sit-down sessions for us to see tomorrow. The Star, by the way, did place a formal request for an interview. Apparently we're not alone, however, in being refused. Here's the notice we just received.

YEAR END INTERVIEWS

 

Please note that year end interviews with the Prime Minister will be viewed on Tuesday December 22 in the National Press Theatre.

The interviews will be distributed on the PM. LINE.

 

Feed and viewing schedule is as follows :

 

10:00 am   CTV  (Please see attached letter)

11:00 am   TVA  (No embargo, credit to TVA Nouvelles)

Comments

[MyThought]

CTV's will be mushy...I will not watch. Actually, with the overdone photo-ops, I'm sick of looking at him.

[Flanstein]

I wonder which conservative sycophant did the CTV interview? Robert Fyfe?

[Darrin McTavish]

There was a time when one could expect a modicum of rspect from journalists, and those not respectful were shunned and margunalized by the masses as guttersnipes. Alas. From seventies militancy (CBC female journos were members of the Waffle Marxist Leninist NDP then -- it was heady times) to today respect for the office and the persons holding the office has been eradicated. I'm so glad you all liked Trudeau so much but he was so much like Prime Minister Harper in his ways... In fact he was more direct, the giving of the finger, the "fuddle duddle" the "just watch me" (poor Tim Rafe is dead now...) No Prime Minister elsewhere in the world comes close to being available to journalist access as in Canada. Try and interview the main man in Portugal, or Spain. Go ahead. try! So for Mr. Harper to eschew all except the most limited contacts with interviewers, is a progression that this land and it's journos have brought upon themselves. I did save the best for the end though... "Gotcha' journalism" is not the way to choose one's leaders. "Deer in the Headlights" kills careers, and picking Prime Ministers based on how quick they are on their feet, in a scrum, is simply a lunatic's wet dream !

[hollinm]

Why would the PM grant an interview to the Toronto Star? Given the coverage he gets from the likes of Travers,Delacourt and Brennan I wouldn't give any of you or any other reporter working for the Star an interview. So you can be like the other left winger columists and writers and view the interviews on tape.

[Toxic Issue]

Why should PM Harper give two minutes to the peanut gallery that only tries to trip him up... I've literally listened to hi speeches\appearances at functions only to read him being totally taken out of context and inturrupted so they can grab apparent "gotcha" moments. The Press (NPG) is nothing more than a unprofessional Liberal mouthpiece...

[geo]

So what's the point you're trying to make?

You would rather spend the good part of the day viewing a bunch of interviews?

Or is it that a local city newspaper should have been chosen over a national network or included with the network?

[anon]

Once again, the parliamentary press gallery determines, all on its own, that the way a sitting prime minister should conduct his media strategy should be dictated by two things: 1) the media themselves; and 2) the way it's always been done in the past. This is self-serving nonsense at its most... what was that word again? Oh, right. BRAZEN.

[Jim Ott]

We do you clowns even show up? Grow a pair.

[Inner Queensway Dweller]

Aaron Wherry of Maclean's recently opined what whatever is wrong with Canadian media "it's self inflicted". Chantal Hebert defended Harper's aversion to watching the Canadian media by saying it was a sign of, quote, "sanity", and that even she is reluctant to watch it.

When members of the Canadian media come up with genius questions for Harper like "Are Conservatives barbarians?", as Steve Paikin (in)famously did during a live nationally televised debate, I have to agree with Wherry and Hebert and I can't blame Harper for wanting as little to do with a hostile and demonstrably unprofessional media as he can.

[John]

This is because the Prime Minister is a coward. When the going gets tough, he hauls ass out of town and hides behind friendly or supine media outlets.

[wascally wabbit]

CTV?
Hm - that's safe!
Interviewng his candidates for Senator in January?

[John Merritt]

Just like I don't believe it is wise to overstay a person's welcome, I also believe much can be gained with maximal results and less effort. Someone once stated I could get more accomplished with less than anyone they have ever met.

Maybe that is what we need. To have people 'say what they mean and mean what they say'. The more anyone tries to dance around an issue or object, the greater the waters can get muddied. Happy Holidays again Susan.

[syncrodox]

What... no beer?

Syncro

[NB Sparrow]

No FOX interview?

[Marta]

I am one who prefers it short .. A Menacing Doomsboy that is what he is.
he looks almost unreal not a living feeling person. like sombody is possessed programmed and doing things as he is "told " by another one....
It is always a bad day when he talks to "us".

[Justin Case]

Popcorn? Beer too?

[Rav]

I don't blame him for not sitting down with the TS. Considering the Star spends virtually all its time trying to tear the Prime Minister down, I think he would rather sit down with rational journalist. Unfortunately for Canada, the number of fair minded journalist is seriously lacking.

[YukonGal]

It's all about keeping Canadians in the dark. No interviews, no questions answered. How much do you want to bet that CTV (as though they'd ask hard questions anyways) and TVA had to submit the questions for vetting first?

Ah Harper, a PM you're not. You are a wannabee King sitting in your Ivory Tower.

[TikTok]

Our cornerstone to Democracy. Siddiqui is absolutely correct and good on the Star for finally starting to say so. Thanks Susan, that about says it all I think.

[Peter]

Geeze Susan, do you think he might be busy? You know, being the Prime Minister of Canada? My goodness, you spend the year bashing the PM with the clear Liberal bias only the Star and it's minions can bring and then wonder why he won't talk to you? Give me a break!

[fern st albert]

The press will be happy to make it up as it sees fit, so why bother with an interview. I'm sure Michael, Jack, Gilles and Elizabeth will be more than thrilled to fill the empty time spots. The MSM media was handed a stocking full of "coal" as their Christmas present. They have been "naughty" this year. Santa never forgets. Cheers.

[Bill]

Will he give all his answers by way of a piano song?

2009, the year facism came to Canada.

[Bill]

Peter says "Gee, do you think he might be busy?"

Yeah so busy that he has to prorogue parliament.

Return your head to its natural orifice.

[patrick]

There will come a time when Harper will need the media, and if they don't come running, who will blame them.

And as a lot of commenters seem to put the media down in the comments, I ask: if they are all so weak, why is Harper so scared of them? If Harper is so brilliant, why not put that brilliance to the test at some media organizations that don't think puffball questions like how do you stay in shape, or what kind of fruit would you be are telling Canadians what they need to hear.

[Jen]

The americans prefer the prime minister of canada than OBAMA, would you believe it and they would like the prime minister to handle their affairs rather than OBAMA.
International media also give the PM stephen Harper full marks.

[Gabby in QC]

I’m off on a tangent here ... but having just read an article about my esteemed Premier Jean Charest blasting PM Harper about climate change and Copenhagen, I thought I would contact my esteemed Premier to tell him exactly what I think of him. I was amazed at the kind of information my esteemed Premier wants from prospective email senders: https://www.premier.gouv.qc.ca/premier-ministre/nous-joindre/courriel-formulaire-en.asp
My Premier not only wants my full name but also my postal code and phone number.
Just out of curiosity, I checked other provincial premiers to see whether they too required the same information. I checked the sites of premiers McGuinty, Williams, Stelmach, Wall, and that of the PM.
Charest is the only one who requires my postal code and phone number in addition to my first and last names.
Give me a man of few words like the PM rather than a chatty premier who apparently is afraid of getting some possibly verbally hostile email.

[David Price]

Resposible government includes meeting with the people and all the press. I guess we are sinking to a new low in our Canadian democracy.