Freedom of (Dis)Information Act?

Only a short time in government and already he's doing the things he said he wouldn't do. You know, the things that other governments have been doing. Well guess what. He's done it again! That's right, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is restricting media access to his caucus. Only he and cabinet ministers can address the media, BUT the cabinet ministers can only speak to the media with the approval of the PMO, and only on the pre-approved five topics of his government's agenda. What is the Prime Minister trying to hide?

He did it during the election campaign. Keep the fringe, extreme right members away from the media. You know, the ones that were against gay marriages, abortions, and other sinful acts. Well, apparently doing it just through the election campaign wasn't enough. Now he feels he has to keep them on a tight leash during their Minority Government rule.

What did Prime Minister Harper's Director of Communications, Sandra Buckler, have to say about it? "I don't think the average Canadian cares as long as they know their government is being well run." WHAT?!?!? Is she trying to tell us that we don't need to know what's going on, as long as the Conservatives don't get their hand caught in the cookie jar? Does Ms. Buckler have such a short memory? The Conservatives campaigned on ousting the Liberals because of the sponsorship scandal. Something brought to light well after the fact by a courageous whistleblower. The scandal happened on Mr. Chretien's watch and he was well into private life before that mess became very public and Mr. Martin had to pick up the pieces. Is Ms. Buckler telling us that the media should not scrutinize the government on the Canadian people's behalf? What kind of self-entitlement does the Conservative government think they have? When is the last time that the Canadian people trusted their government so implicitly? When has any population of any country trusted their government so completely?

No, Ms. Buckler. You're wrong! Maybe you think the Conservatives are doing a wonderful job. But the fact is, there is trepidation in Canada about whether the Conservatives can run the country under Mr. Harper's stewardship. Why do you think you only have a Minority Government stake. In fact, you have a slimmer minority than the Liberals had. Does that sound like implicit trust to you?

The Canadian public wants to know what's going on. We want the media to be our eyes and ears because we can't spend all day in Ottawa watching over your shoulders. If you want the Canadian people to put you into a Majority Government situation in the next election, giving you up to five years of uninterrupted rule, then you're going to have to be transparent in your actions. Don't hide how you're running the government, and don't put your caucus members on a short leash. Let's hear what they have to say and we'll be the judge of what's important to us as constituents.

And what can you do as a Canadian voter? Show the Conservative government that you want them to be open in how they govern. They campaigned on a platform of accountability, well make them stick to that promise! What can you do? What every Canadian has the right to do, write to your MP. It doesn't matter which party they're a member of, they work for you. Make them earn their pay. If you want to make sure Mr. Harper gets your message, then write to his office:

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2

Fax: 613-941-6900

Or better yet, e-mail him at pm@pm.gc.ca.

Let Prime Minister Harper know that he's going to have to put up, or shut up. Either he's going to have to let the media have access to EVERY Conservative MP on the hill, or he's going to have to shut up about accountability and telling us that he's different from the Liberals...because right now he's not!

So, it's up to you, dear reader. Do you think the Conservative government is doing a good job?

Wings Over The World