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

Meet the press

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, October 2, 2009 1:25am - 48 Comments

Gary Lunn, the minister of state for sport, takes questions from reporters after QP this afternoon. Or perhaps this a scene from The Thick of It with all the swears removed.

Question: So are you suing the Canadian Olympic Association for trademark infringement?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: No. I don’t think we’ll be doing that. I mean, this, this was designed by the Hudson’s Bay company with consultations with the Canadian Olympic Committee and also an athlete’s panel. In fact, it was one of your colleagues who showed it to me yesterday on his Blackberry, but we have no input, there’s nobody in the Government of Canada that’s involved in that in any way, shape or form.

Question: But it, it, do you not admit it looks a lot like your party logo?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Oh there’s no question there’s some similarities. And in fact, I talked to the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee yesterday and he said you know, and asked him that and he said you know, that would never have crossed our mind. Of course, they’re not involved in the political world and he said the first that he even acknowledged that was when they read it in the press today.

Question: Well do you think you should stop it? Do you think you should stop it so your party is not accused

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Listen, this is, this is

Question: of partisanship?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Well no, it’s not,

Question: For politicizing the Olympics?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Just to be really clear, there’s no politicization of the Olympics. We’ve got athletes training across the country. They’re doing fantastic, they won 28 medals in podiums last winter, voting Canada number one in the world first time, ahead of Norway, ahead of United States. They’re going to win gold, we’re proud of them in every corner of the country. There’s absolutely nothing political. Every Canadian, every corner of Canada should be out there cheering our athletes and we will be as well. This is not a Government of Canada

Question: So just to get rid of this stench, or the alleged stench, why don’t you stop this or suggest they change it?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Listen, we had no involvement in this at all and this is already, this is, was done, as I say, by the Hudson’s Bay Company in full consultations with an athletes panel and the Canadian Olympic Committee which is, you know, we weren’t even not consulted, we weren’t talked to. We learned about it the same time as you and they’re very proud of these uniforms and they got a lot of feedback. So I think it’s time that we really focus on cheering for our athletes. That’s what this is all about. These Games, these Games are going to be the most exciting Games. We’re going to win gold at home and athletes in, you know, our team, if you were out there seeing them last year, you know, see their determination and their passion, that’s what we should be focusing on.

Question: So is the Conservative Party going to sue for improper use of its logo? I mean, we’ve seen that in the past.

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Well, that’s, that’s not our logo, so no.

Question: But if a company did it, if a business company took that, wouldn’t you be suing them?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Listen, I, you guys are all focusing on this. I’m telling you right now, there was absolutely 100% no involvement. One of your colleagues, in fact it was Bob Fife who showed it to me.

Question: But why would you let anyone steal your trademark and use it?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: Listen, we’re here to support our athletes. This was completely done at arm’s, not, not involvement of the government at all. And we’re, we’re here, we’re here, we’re here, we’re here to cheer on our athletes. We’re here to keep their eye on the ball, to focus on winning gold at the most amazing Olympics that we’ve ever had and the best performance.

Question: So you sort of like the design eh? You think that’s a pretty good design?

The Hon. Gary Lunn: I’m telling you I’m going to be cheering on our athletes in every sport, in every venue and I hope you will be too.

Question: Will this get you an extra seat in the Lower Mainland sir?

Tags: Gary Lunn, house of commons, logo, Olympics, Ottawa, Parliament, Question Period, The Thick of It, vancouver, Vancouver Olympics

More by Aaron Wherry

dan in van

Any idea how much more the *trademark infringement* government has spilled onto the Olympic projects and assorted stakeholders' laps over the past handful of months, after saying 'That's It!' more than a year ago? I'm just asking, that's all…
Pat Maitland

If anything, the 'retro' logo on the Olympic clothing looks like the RCAF logo. Are the Liberals going to accuse HBC of militarizing the games?

Of everything that happened on the hill, this was the best example of why the Liberals are not ready govern. Whoever decided this was worthy of a QP question is a moron, and should get to work on some relevant criticism of the gov't.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Tridus Tridus

Wow, it really does!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Air_F…

Quick, someone stop the Canadian Olympic Committe from promoting the 1960s air force!

Craig O

Poor Gary Lunn. This isn't politicization of the Olympics, this is just RBC's Olympic apparel design team screwing up once again.

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Actually, I would say that this is most definitely politicizing the Olympics…only its not Gary Lunn or the Conservatives that's doing the politicizing here. What unbelievably loaded questions

http://intensedebate.com/people/Ed_Sweeney Ed_Sweeney

It does shed a lot of light on how the press get some of the quotes they do. Its only surprising they don't get more black eyes.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Ed_Sweeney Ed_Sweeney

It does shed a lot of light on how the press get some of the quotes they do. Its only surprising they don't get more black eyes. Kudos to Wherry for publishing the exchange in whole.

http://intensedebate.com/people/YYZ YYZ

So I agree fully with you and Johnny G on this – but don't you agree Lunn could spare himself a lot of grief by just saying a whole lot less?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Ed_Sweeney Ed_Sweeney

I really liked how he consistently gave the message about supporting the athletes, and really admire his patience. So, no, I think saying a whole lot less wouldn't accomplish anything and probably would only feed the belligerence of the reporter, e.g. "What are you hiding, minister?".
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Ed_Sweeney Ed_Sweeney

I really liked how he consistently gave the message about supporting the athletes, and really admire his patience. So, no, I think saying a whole lot less wouldn't accomplish anything and probably would only feed the belligerence of the reporter, e.g. "What are you hiding, minister?".

The way Lunn handled it, if the reporter actually publishes anything, the message about supporting athletes will likely get included.

http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

Hmmm….have you seen the Tim Horton's logo? A little to coincidental.

http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Yeah…so much so that you'd even think it was a joke or a hoax or something…
wilson

It's a spoof, you were spoooofed.

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

Hmm. Maybe it's time for another round of deep PPG interest in Darwin's theories of evolution.
John W.

Note, he pointedly says the "government" wasn't involved. He does not say "Conservative Party".

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

He didnt say the Pope wasnt involved either

Lord Kitchener's Own

OMG! You're right!!!!

C stands for "Christ", and this whole idea of "bringing back" a "retro" look? This logo is a secret Vatican code to foretell the second-coming of Christ!!!

This is much worse than the Tories using their secret mind-control devices to hypnotize the entire corporate leadership at HBC and an independent Olympic athletes panel; this is a SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE!!!!

Run! Run for your lives!!!!

Style

That's true – he also doesn't say that the Canadian Olympic Committee and the athletes panel are fronts for a vast right-wing conspiracy. Hmm…

Lord Kitchener's Own

Please, please, please can we move on from criticizing the uniforms/logo based on this idiotic suggestion that the Tories secretly hypnotized the executives of the Bay and the independent athletes panel into using the Tory logo on their apparel, to criticizing the uniforms/logo based on the fact that their generally horrible!!!

BRING BACK ROOTS!!!

John W.

Sombody just has to suggest, this would be a nice one.
Hasn't anybody around here ever heard of Giorno?

Mike B

That line of questioning should be embarrassing to the Press Gallery.

Lord Kitchener's Own

As dumb as it is, I do think the question needed to be asked, once, given the similarity between the logos, but you're right that the LINE of REPEATED questions is embarrassing.

I don't mind someone asking the question, but "we have no input, there’s nobody in the Government of Canada that’s involved in that in any way, shape or form" should have pretty much put an end to it.

wilson

'As dumb as it is, I do think the question needed to be asked'

You are right, and the first ones the ppg should be asking is the Canadian Olympic Committee…….but then there is no faux scandal .
When asked the COC did say NO WAY, no involvement what so ever….

Lord Kitchener's Own

That's a good point too. The one time the question should have been asked was to the COC, or maybe HBC or VANOC.

I suppose, since they are our elected officials, one could argue that the Minister still needs to be asked once himself, but the key word being ONCE (unless of course there was an equivocal answer, but that's clearly not the case here!).

Dakota

Maybe the Liberals can call the HRC, there must be something in the charter to put a stop to this logo!

wilson

Maybe Young Liberals will come out in full force with picket signs to protest our Young Olympians uniforms!

http://intensedebate.com/people/psiclone psiclone

This is completely unacceptable, of all the possible outrrageous things this gov't has done this takes the cake. I for one am fed up and demand a public inquiry! Strike that I demand that the entire IOC be bought in to be grilled mercilessly by Hedy Fry at a special committee, immediately .. of all the nerve … how dare the conseervative party not sue the olympic design committee I think that there can be nothing more important for the Liberal Party to deal with at present and that they drop all of the Quebec non sense and get to the heart of this obvioulsy nefarious conservative plot!

Style

How much higher will our deficit climb because the Tories refuse to sue the Olympic Committee? This speaks directly to their mismanagement of the country's resources. And their contempt for Canada's judiciary. You never hear of Liberals refusing to sue people on slim pretexts.

Lord Kitchener's Own

In fairness, you rarely hear of the Tories refusing to sue people on slim pretexts either!

LOL

kcm

Yeah. Leadership starts at the top!
http://intensedebate.com/people/psiclone psiclone

you know this was a good one LKO – made me laugh and I am a conservative – you know the funniest bit about the latest from Hedy – she has just upped the profile of the CPC logo I haven't seen so many copies of it out and about by third parties ever before – it's a double double twist and turn .. maybe Hedy is a conservative mole in the party and will be crossing the floor anyday – she would get my vote right now!

Lord Kitchener's Own

It would probably be a bad (and crass) move, but I would absolutely laugh my ass off if sometime next week the entire Tory caucus wore Olympic caps in the House.

(Say, I don't even know if I can say ass in here! Let's find out!)

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

But what is interesting is this does sort of open the door for others, doesn't it? No doubt all sorts of different companies and organizations that start with a C will be designing logos that eerily bring to mind the Conservative Party of Canada's logo. The Conservatives have now got a track record of "similar isn't the same" kind of response. Kind of a good way to take advantage of the Olympic similarities without leaving yourself open to a lawsuit by the Olympics, wouldn't you think?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Ed_Sweeney Ed_Sweeney

No doubt all sorts of different companies and organizations that start with a C will be designing logos that eerily bring to mind the Conservative Party of Canada's logo.

Are you being serious?

As for trying to hook into similarities with the Olympics, the answer is no. This is one baseball hat, not the COC Olympic logo, it will only be recognizable to political junkies.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Ed_Sweeney Ed_Sweeney

No doubt all sorts of different companies and organizations that start with a C will be designing logos that eerily bring to mind the Conservative Party of Canada's logo.

Are you being serious?

As for trying to hook into similarities with the Olympics, the answer is no. This is one HBC baseball hat, not the COC Olympic logo, it will only be recognizable to political junkies.

hosertohoosier

Wow, great reporting. This is the same kind of journalism that brought us wafergate (and you wonder why newspapers are going belly up).
Calgay Junkie

Do we need any more proof as to why Harper treats the PPG with such disdain ? What a pack of maroons.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Ed_Sweeney Ed_Sweeney

No doubt all sorts of different companies and organizations that start with a C will be designing logos that eerily bring to mind the Conservative Party of Canada's logo.

Are you being serious?

As for trying to hook into similarities with the Olympics, the answer is no. This is one baseball hat, not the COC Olympic logo, it will only be recognizable to political junkies.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

Wo is the reporter asking these questions? Was it a sports reporter, because that would go a long way to explaining so many things about the questions.

Dakota

Was it Wherry himself?

kcm

Why are you even on this post? Surely there must be dozens of biased liberal journalists out there for you to target.

http://intensedebate.com/people/psiclone psiclone

you know the funniest bit about the latest from Hedy – she has just upped the profile of the CPC logo I haven't seen so many copies of it out and about by third parties ever before – it's a double double twist and turn .. maybe Hedy is a conservative mole in the liberal party and will be crossing the floor anyday – she would get my vote right now!
http://eugeneforseyliberal.blogspot.com eugeneforseyliberal

Actually, this is exactly the kind of interviewing we need more of in Canada. OF COURSE the logo was modelled on the Cons' – have you all not been following the culture of fear and intimidation in Ottawa? The worst part is how it was the makers' themselves who came up with the Con-inspired logo themselves. Have you all not noticed how all the government documents and ads starting sporting blue in January 2006 and have been getting increasingly blue ever since, until we have blatantly partisan Con ads appearing as GoC "Economic Update" ads now? I remember hearing a DG talk about this phenomenon in Feb 2006 – everyone was laughing and he was saying, "no, really, you're laughing, but this incredibly important – first thing you do when there's a change of govt is change the colours to fit the new bosses', etc.". Some will say Libs have same effect, or NDP provincially. Doubtless. Still terribly wrong, this self-censorship/ingratiation. Like steering money to Govt held ridings…rotten politics=rotten boroughs. As for interviewing, excellent, and funny – available to watch anywhere? Milquetoast Canadians should watch and learn from this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwlsd8RAoqI
Lord Kitchener's Own

have you all not been following the culture of fear and intimidation in Ottawa?

I'm pretty sure this decision on the uniforms wasn't made within 300 kilometers of Ottawa.
anonymous

Who asked the interview questionss, the Rainman?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

But why would you let anyone steal your trademark and use it?

This is hilarious. It reads like a mock interview from the Daily Show. How can these questions be seen as anything but satirical?

Does anyone know who asked them? Was it part of a TV comedy sketch?
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/avr avr

I'd like to see reporters get just a little more familiar with established jurisprudence regarding S. 5(a) and S. 5(e) of the Trade-marks Act before going off on this tangent; it looks even sillier, if such a thing is possible, with even the barest awareness of IP doctrine.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/avr avr

I'd like to see reporters get just a little more familiar with established jurisprudence on S. 6(5)(a) and S. 6(5)(e) of the Trade-marks Act before going off on this tangent; it looks even sillier, if such a thing is possible, with even the barest awareness of the doctrine of distinctiveness. Seriously, how hard is it to call up an IP law prof and get a two-sentence quote?