statism watch

Is this a response to CanadaParticipates.ca, the website launched by the group that staged the anti-prorogation rallies? Or simple a belated nod to the thousands of Canadians that got out to those protests. Either way, this is what leaders and their staffers should be doing in the Internet age. But like a fuzzy sweater, the image of a consensus-driven leader doesn’t really work on Harper. That suit is an ill-fitting one. To wait so long, and to have done so many things to centralize power in the PMO, this small consultative effort is of course going to draw fire. Let’s assume he knew that. It will be interesting to see how he handles the response interview on Tuesday. Now, go post some comments on the TalkCanada channel. It can’t get any easier, you’ve got a direct line to Harper’s staff until Sunday 1PM EST.

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Richard J Brennan, Toronto Star
March 11, 2010

OTTAWA –– Prime Minister Stephen Harper draped himself in Olympic gold medals Thursday as he boasted – in the House of Commons and via YouTube – that his Conservative government almost single handedly pulled Canada back from the precipice of financial ruin.

“Bad choices now – unaffordable long-term spending commitments, ill-advised tax hikes, dithering on deficits and difficult decisions – will doom those countries who choose them to years of debt, stagnation and joblessness. A country of 33 million people that can win the most gold medals ever at an Olympic Games does not deserve that. And, on our watch, Canada will not get it,” Harper concluded at the end of a 30-minute speech.

Giving his official response to last week’s throne speech, Harper went beyond the television sets of Canadians and had his speech livestreamed on YouTube.com, where viewers were also invited to submit questions. Harper will make a return visit next Tuesday at 7 p.m. to answer a selection of questions.

In turning to the popular video-sharing website to get his message out to Canadians and others “unfiltered” by the national media, Harper opened up a social media can of worms.

Even before Harper’s Thursday speech, more than 170 questions had been submitted from across the country, asking the prime minister about everything under the sun, including whether he was sporting a toupe.

A question submitted after his speech stated: “You couldn’t get a majority against the weak Martin or the lame duck Dion, & polls show you would also fail vs the foreigner Ignatieff. When are you going to step down and let a real leader win a majority for the good of the party & the country?”

The more serious submissions ranged from the environment to free trade, with many of them stated in unflattering terms.

Harper was asked why he didn’t cut income taxes rather than the GST, what the economic impact on Canada would be if the U.S. pulled out of the North American Free Trade Agreement and whether the health care system can withstand the onslaught of the baby boomers. Others were more critical, including why he continues to abuse power by proroguing Parliament and a comment calling him the worst prime minister in Canadian history.

Among the fringe comments was a video raising fears about airplane contrails, a popular target of Internet conspiracy theorists.

“Social media is changing the way Canadians interact with politicians,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement Wednesday. “It allows Canadians to have unfiltered and immediate access to information. Livestreaming complements our government’s current use of social media.”

In using YouTube, Harper was going head-to-head with millions of videos, showing everything from brides falling into pools to bloopers uttered by former U.S. president George W. Bush.

“Canadians, especially younger Canadians, are no longer getting their news from just television, radio and print media. They are turning to new media in increasing numbers,” the PMO said.

One analyst noted that politicians have often looked for ways to go around the national media.

“People are trying lots of new ideas and new technologies but to me this doesn’t sound like a winner,” said Christopher Waddell, associate professor and director of the Carleton school of journalism.

As of noon Thursday, more than 350 questions had been submitted at YouTube.com/TalkCanada, including a handful of video submissions, and more than 780 people had participated or cast votes. The questions must be submitted by Sunday at 1 p.m.

The throne speech was delivered a day before the Harper government tabled its federal budget.

The House of Commons voted in principle Wednesday to support the federal budget 142-132. All three opposition parties opposed the motion, but the Liberals made sure enough of their MPs stayed away to avoid toppling the minority Conservative government.

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