Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Welcome to the big show

by Aaron Wherry on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 8:43pm - 38 Comments

Canadian Press previews tomorrow’s economic progress report.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to present a rosy picture of his Conservative government’s handling of the recession Thursday in a slick made-for-TV presentation designed to forestall a quick summer election.

The planned event in the southwestern Ontario industrial city of Cambridge will feature the Prime Minister releasing the government’s report on the effectiveness of government policies at the Armenian Community Centre.

The presentation will be moderated by Senator Mike Duffy, a former television journalist, and feature Harper, flanked by Human Resources Minister Diane Finley and Gary Goodyear, the local MP and Minister of State for Science. It will include a staged interview segment between Harper and Duffy.

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

    " It will include a staged interview segment between Harper and Duffy."

    So different than when Duff was hosting Mike Duffy Live?

    • Bridget

      Ha ha ha ! So true, Duffy used to lob slowballs at Conservative ministers to set them up for their spin. I loved watching his show but I nearly had a heart attack every time he interviewed (read – slobbered over) Conservatives.

  • Wascally Wabbit

    Excuse me folks while I go let my stomach relieve itself from whatever is making it churn…

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

      Perhaps you are suffering from too much bile?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

    Where's Jim Flaherty? I thought that was his gig! Stevie & the Duff will be just another yuletide fireside chat. Maybe I'll get some marshmallows for the hot chocolate. Who wants to start a pool on the colour of Dear Leader's sweater?

    • avens

      Only if it is a *sweater vest*

  • Anon

    Flaherty apparently will be in a townhall. I wonder if CTV plans to carry this "interview" live, and I'm kind of perplexed that Pamela Wallin (who is a real journalist) wouldn't be on stage. You don't think she has some self-respect, do you?

  • http://theplaceofbiff.blogspot.com biff

    Translation:

    "The Liberal Media, without even seeing the report, is already proclaiming that the Conservatives are being dishonest in its reporting"

    • Blues Clair

      Flaherty.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JPro JPro

    It's only a matter of time 'til we see Duffy interviewing Kevin Trudeau on late night tv.

  • Saskboys Homeboy

    Lets not wait to see it, lets start the hatefest now, Oh sorry, I see I am too late and the mud slinging started already.

  • Darrell

    This should effectively taint the objectivity of every interview Duffy has ever done. Not that there was ever really any doubt.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

      EVERY interview EVER done? Wow. Check the weekly flyers — if there's a sale on perspective somewhere, you might want to stock up.

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

        LOL – nice one.

      • Darrell

        The fact that Duffy would display such a lack of journalistic integrity calls into question whether he ever had any.

        • http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

          You want a FORMER journalist, now senator, to display whatever passes for your version of journalistic integrity, or else you shall attack his entire former career as a journalist? Wow, like I said ,about those flyers…

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

    You think tomorrow's document is going to be key to swaying public opinion on Mike Duffy?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

    NEWSFLASH: The Tories will defend their record as responsible stewards of the Canadian economy, a beacon to the world in these tough times.

    NEWSFLASH: The Opposition will proclaim that this update is all the proof Canadians need to know that the Tories cannot be trusted with the keys to 24 Sussex.

    EXTRA SUPER-DUPER PRESS-STOPPING FLASH: Both the government and the opposition will employ selective presentations and partisan excess to extol their own virtues and to denigrate the other party(ies).

    Quelle surprise…

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jack_Mitchell Jack_Mitchell

      But only one side has a trained elephant. Chacun à son goût.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

    Hmm.. so they're doing a copy of what the Ontario Conservatives did at Magna a few years back… the only difference being as I recall that they released the Budget there .. while this is slightly different in it being the economic report.

    Didn't work for the Ontario PC's; I'm skeptical it will for this bunch.

  • Austin So

    How much would anyone bet that prior to the "interview" no one reminds the public that Duffy is a Senator appointed by the CPC, and has retired from journalism…?

    The Ministry of Information is clearly in high gear…

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

      You really must think that people are stupid.

      • Austin So

        Oh…then why use Duffy at all? Why the mock "interview"?

        If our dear leader Mr. Harper doesn't want to cross any ethical boundary, then why put himself in a position to do so?

        BTW…ask 10 people on the street if they know that the fat guy interviewer on CTV news is a Senator and see what answer you get, Critter…

  • http://theplaceofbiff.blogspot.com biff

    Of course, the most important question about the presentation is this:

    If the CPC says that Canada is positioned well ahead of nearly all countries in this worldwide recession, is that statement true?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Habitant Habitant

    When support was given for the budget, it was on condition of quarterly reports to Parliament. I don't recall anything about an infomercial.

    And Gary Goodyear? What's he got to do with it? When did he become Harper's new (intelligently designed) BFF?
    Or, is that simply acknowledging that Halton will be a loss, let's see if we can try to hang on to Cambridge?

  • Andrew (not P or C)

    Infotainment meets politics. Good thing we're not in any kind of fiscal or economic trouble, else this circus might be a distraction from leadership and management.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

      Psst – it hasn't actually happened yet. You should save your scathing reviews for after the fact, rather than basing your critical assessment on four sentences from CP that Wherry happened to post on his blog.

      • http://www.canadianrosebud.blogspot.com rockfish

        C'mon. The format the gov't has chosen for this dog-and-pony show writes itself. It's essentially 'sham-wow!' without any evidence of trying to clean up the mess, but cheesier. I know what – let's get Flaherty to simulate working the calculator to show the budget estimates shrinking as we watch!
        It's amazingly lame, having a big production and faux 'hot interview' with a so-called leader when this kind of work is suppose to occur in his office – you know, parliament.
        But the cynicism about the possible report itself is off base. No doubt this 'pull-the-budget-numbers-out-of-their-butts' team that was just revealed to have sloshed way more money on the nuclear division than they reported will no doubt attempt to be honest and up-front for once. And i've got some isotopes i'd like to sell you.

        • scf

          ???! Is that English?

        • scf

          OK, so you're saying your dog ate the cheese and the calculator in the isotope office is a sham in their nuclear butts?

  • http://www.canadianrosebud.blogspot.com rockfish

    If you keep confirming it, how can he not think it…

    • scf

      Your insult is no better than what a 3 year old would say. Try harder, or don't bother.

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/DaveFromToronto DaveFromToronto

    What bothers me the most about this upcoming presentation is how much time and preparation has likely gone into it. No doubt, the content has been carefully scripted, edited, revised, and possibly even rehearsed. The choice of location – a key Ontario swing riding – has likely been chosen, for strategic reasons, after considerable thought. The overall setting for the presentation has, I'm sure, been carefully planned to ensure maximum impact. This isn't the sort of thing that a couple of junior staffers can put together in a day; this required high-level planning and logistics to pull off.

    Which leads me to the obvious question: how much of Mr. Harper's time, and that of various of his ministers, has been spent on this stuff rather than on, say, governing the country?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Sir_Francis Sir_Francis

    …how much of Mr. Harper's time, and that of various of his ministers, has been spent on this stuff rather than on, say, governing the country?

    I sympathise with your critical view, Dave, but let's face it–recent evidence suggests that the less time this government spends on "governing the country", the better.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Sir_Francis Sir_Francis

    …Pamela Wallin (who is a real journalist) …

    Read: "Pamela Wallin (who was a real journalist)…"

  • D-R

    It's just too easy too mock Mike Puffy.

    Where's a spare throwing shoe when yoou need.

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/DaveFromToronto DaveFromToronto

    What bothers me the most about this upcoming presentation is how much time and preparation has likely gone into it. No doubt, the content has been carefully scripted, edited, revised, and possibly even rehearsed. The location – a key Ontario swing riding – has likely been chosen, for strategic reasons, after considerable thought. The overall setting for the presentation has, I'm sure, been carefully planned to ensure maximum impact. This isn't the sort of thing that a couple of junior staffers can put together in a day; this requires high-level planning and logistics to pull off.

    Which leads me to the obvious question: how much of Mr. Harper's time, and that of various of his ministers, has been spent on this stuff rather than on, say, governing the country?

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/DaveFromToronto DaveFromToronto

    What bothers me the most about this upcoming presentation is how much time and preparation has likely gone into it. No doubt, the content has been carefully scripted, edited, revised, and possibly even rehearsed. The location – a key Ontario swing riding – has likely been chosen, for strategic reasons, after considerable thought. The overall setting for the presentation has, I'm sure, been carefully designed to ensure maximum impact. This isn't the sort of thing that a couple of junior staffers can put together in a day; this requires high-level planning and logistics to pull off.

    Which leads me to the obvious question: how much of Mr. Harper's time, and that of various of his ministers, has been spent on this stuff rather than on, say, governing the country?

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