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

Hard to get

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, August 13, 2010 4:53pm - 0 Comments

On July 26, after the National Statistics Council had publicly tabled a proposed solution to the census dispute, NSC president Ian McKinnon told Postmedia that the NSC had been trying for two weeks, without success, to meet with Industry Minister Tony Clement. The next day, Mr. Clement told the industry committee that “if others have other ideas that could help animate this discussion, we’re willing to listen to them.”

Two weeks later, the NSC released another statement, outlining its reaction to recent government changes and concluding that it “stands ready to assist” the minister and the government. Mr. Clement responded with his own statement, which concluded, “I value the expertise of the members of the Council and look forward to working with them in the future.”

As of this afternoon, no meeting had taken place or been scheduled, so just now, in a new release, the NSC “welcomes” the minister’s acknowledgment of their expertise and renews its request for a meeting.

More by Aaron Wherry

Geiseric

Silly chattel. Submit a report like everyone else and Tony's staff will make every effort to ensure there's no way of denying or confirming his ever recieving it.

Some people just make you feel cheap.
Emily

'And never the twain shall meet'
amherstvw

If they could reduce their all their BIG ideas to a concise 140 characters … cleverly wrapped in an old Groucho Marx line … he would notice.

Minister Clement would notice because he CARES … SO MUCH ! You don't realize how alone he is !

You know … this is just the problem with ELITES. They can't adapt … 140 characters is the new one page memo .

Get used to it !

Prime Minister Harper cares too. He is a volunteer hockey coach. The important FACTS are always ignored by the media.
LaxAtlDfwYow

I cannot say I have much sympathy for Clement or the NSC. It's pretty clear Clement isn't the decision maker on this (on any?) issue. So, why, apart from optics – being seen to do what they volunteered to do – is the NSC chasing a meeting with a mouthpiece minister? Why waste cycles to influence an empty vessel? If they really want to influence the decision – although it's apparently already too late – they should have the courage to break protocol and chase a meeting w/ PMSH. They won't get it, but the pursuit might at least serve to raise the perceived degree of their concern.

For Clement's part – again because he's only the (pretty lousy) messenger – why would he take a meeting knowing that it changes nothing and only puts him at risk of saying something else stupid to people who actually understand the issues? Far better tactics to have staff cherry pick from the NSC press releases.

Both have to posture. The NSC postures (weakly, IMHO) to do its job. Clement postures to avoid doing his. Symmetry!

Iccyh

This seems a little hard on the NSC. Their job is to consult regarding statistical issues, not to play politics. Talking with the minister responsible is consultation, stepping over him and trying to get to the PM is playing politics. I get what you're saying about Clement not being the decision maker, but the NSC appears to me to be in a no-win situation (just like the rest of us).

LaxAtlDfwYow

Yeah had the same thought. However the NSC folks are already playing politics with their repeated public requests for a meeting. they know they won't get it or that it will be a sham if they do. So, the request is pure political posturing. All I'm saying is that if they are reduced to posturing, then at least do it with enough bravado to have a snowball's chance in hell of being effective. What they've done to date is cautious to the point of impotence. If they really believe the census decision is wrongheaded, then have the courage to really fight it.

s_c_f

yawn

Notsleepy

Yawn to your yawn

http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/ Scott_Tribe

scf sure is trying hard to show how bored he is at the "non-story". Too bad others aren't in agreement.

Stewart_Smith

There are no boring subjects, only disinterested scf's.
s_c_f

Clement gives the NSC the run-around. Thrilling story.
wilson

Wherry now has 13 comments, including this one………. boring
The boring part is Harper said NO, and we all know that means 'no',
yet the media and special interest groups just keep beating the dead horse.

Court case Sept 9, Charter challenge, could very easily solve this issue.
As may court challenge on French languages Sept 27…..

Holly Stick

And Daddy knows best, right?

wilson

Curious how Ivan Fellegi
(exChief Statistician before Sheikh, who was first out of the gate going to the media to condemn the new survey)
is an appointee to the National Statistics Council , to advise the new Cheif Statistician,
and was never asked his opinion before the new survey was sent to the Canada Gazette…

NSC mandate is to advise the Cheif Statistician,
not advise the Minister.
Infact, no government representation is allowed in the NSC.

Sheikh was responsibile for NOT advising his advisors of the changes.

http://www.translucid.ca/site/flacklife-the-translucid-blog/ bobledrew

Yeah, this whole thing is Munir Sheikh's fault. God, when will the public service stop trying to kneecap the Harper government? Damn Liberals.

wilson

The media coverage has been one sided, to say otherwise would be an out right lie.

Sheikh was instantly elevated to hero status, as if he had no choices.
He did have choices.

NorthernPoV

well the issue is one-sided….
after all ya got the Fraser inst. and two other loonie-right-wing hack-groups on your side

everyone else is on the other side, hence the media are reporting what is happening

lonely yet?

chet

Given that Wherry has no intention to engage in any sort of critical politidal analysis,

but instead intends to do nothing but serve as a Liberal cheerleader masquarading as a "journalist" in post after post,

will Macleans blog come out and formally join Liblogs and claim formal Liberal party affiliation, or does the occaisional (1 in 30 post) by the likes of Mark Steyn offer this organization what it beleives to be sufficient moral cover to masquarade as a political outfit of the left, while portending to be an "objective" news organization?

Inquiring readers want to know.

tobyornotoby

Inquiring readers? Like who? Do you mean yourself? Some other talking points regurgitator? The PMO maybe?

chet

The vast majority of the public who'd rather have a bit of transparency in their "news" analysis, rather than the dishonest cloak of "impartial news analyst" being applied to those who are clearly on one of the teams.

Holly Stick

Stockwell? Is that you?

Ceeger

Hilarious, Holly Stick. Let me try: Carolyn Bennett? Is that you?
Yes, very clever, thanks!
Holly Stick

Why yes, my comment was hilarious because it referred to Day's idiotic complaint that not enough Canadians are repeating the Conservative talking points.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/tor…

Your comment was not hilarious because it was not pertinent.
Jon Pertwee

Ceegar and Chet consider themselves the majority of Canadians. Its amazing what infinity mirrors will do. Canada is full of meeeee……

Chet's tinfoil is too tight too.

Jenn_

It's going to be such fun when Fox North starts up, and you get to pretend that Kory Tenyeke has NOTHING to do with the Conservatives!

BGLong

I'm waiting for the Sunny folks to abandon the loser deal and the Enlightened Ones to
flip the Kory guy into the Stursy guy. It'll just feel right.
Richard

The Canadian media landscape is already littered with an overwhelming right-wing bias and a complete fear of criticizing this government. FoxNorth will simply be more of the same, albeit with an even greater detachment from reality.

wascally wabbit

Aaron – I'll see your Tony Clement dart and raise you a Janey Viper Laurel. Jane is all gushy about Tony in her Globe and Mail – HOT and NOT piece this morning.
Heavens – she is even pimping an apparent private appearance of the Naked Ladies with the PM recently – where he is the pianist of record…
What's the betting that Janey will have the Lonely One on CTV's Question Period tomorrow – as she tries (what was that apt FRANK MAGAZINE expression) to polish the t*rd!

Anon 001

CTV's QP is on hiatus for the summer, as is Power Play.

Anon

Thank goodness. (Well maybe not for Power Play where Tom Clark is actually doing a good job. Of course, after Senator Tubby anything would have been an improvement.)

JamesHalifax

Chet….

Aaron has been a shill for the LIberals for ages now…..it's his nature.

You can find him touring with Iggy on his bus. In fact, I'm sure Iggy corrects, clarifies, proof reads, and approves of every story prior to Aaron's submissions to the Editor.

He's no doubt hoping for a Government job after the next election if Iggy wins (Liberals treat their friends very well). Don't think of his "journalism" credentials as biased…..just consider it as "future job security"