As the saying goes, democracy dies in darkness, and judging by their practices, it appears the Conservative Party has very little regard for the openness that is required for a politically healthy society. A big read flag (not our Maple Leaf) should be fluttering for all voters, given that PP's party during this election campaign is limiting questions from the mainstream press. It is eerily reminiscent of his ideological cousin, Don Trump's, practices.
And in some cases, the party in its 'wisdom' is sequestering the press, as as was reported by Judy Trinh in Sault Ste. Marie, who
shared a striking observation on social media, highlighting the confined space reporters were allotted during the conference.
The Conservative party’s news conference took place in a parking lot in Sault Ste. Marie, characterized by its open and wide surroundings. However, despite the ample outdoor space, reporters found themselves confined within a designated area measuring approximately 8 meters by 8 meters.
Sounds and looks like an animal pen, doesn't it?
Many pointed out that in an era where transparency is paramount, such arrangements could be seen as counterproductive. The open nature of the parking lot contrasted sharply with the restricted area allocated to the media, leading to questions about the Conservative party’s commitment to engaging with the press.
However, this is part of a larger pattern, as reported by The Hill. In comparing the accessibility of the four parties,
the Conservative campaign in particular is failing its promise of being one of “the most accessible and transparent campaigns in recent memory.”
Speaking with The Hill Times on a not-for-attribution basis out of fear of retaliation from the campaign, journalists covering the Poilievre campaign say that being barred from the tour’s official bus and plane was only been the beginning of the obstacles encountered in trying to hold the candidate to account.
Of the 65 questions Poilievre has fielded at his daily broadcasted press conferences from March 23 through April 6, he has made particular effort to ensure an “equitable balance” between national and local, independent, or minority-community-focused outlets, offering a total of 25 questions to those reporters and, on some days, three or all four of the available questions.
Bear in mind that no media are allowed to accompany the Conservative campaign planes or buses, which stands in sharp contrast to the practices of both the Liberal and NDP campaigns. And although Conservative campaign manager Jennie Byrnes had promised unparalleled transparency, that has proven to be demonstrably false.
While the campaign pre-selects who will be allowed to ask a question and has continued the party’s practice of physically holding the microphone—turning it off immediately after a reporter’s question—there have been increasing reports of the campaign attempting to find out what will be asked and suggesting an alternative question, with the reporter losing their question when they do not comply.
Both The Globe and CBC’s Evan Dyer have reported instances of the campaign pressuring them to change what questions they would ask and withholding their opportunities when they did not comply.
The following two charts help to put this attempt at controlling the press into its proper perspective and are especially revelatory:
As well, the doling out of the 'privilege' of asking the Conservatives questions also tells a great deal:
Who has Pierre Poilievre given questions to?
March 23 - April 6
Mark Carney, the political 'neophyte', offers a sharp contrast to PP's propensity for trying to control the press, indeed, his blatant bias against hard questions. Take a look at how Carney handled a question from about two weeks ago in Edmonton. In it, the Prime Minister offers a full answer to a hostile questioner from The Western Standard. (You really should watch the entire three minutes to get the full flavour of the punch he delivers at the end.)
Ling compared the behaviour of the campaign to a “tin-pot dictator with his little flying press monkeys,” and forecasted “a more serious blow-up between the media and the Conservative press team in the coming days.”
In these troubled times, the last thing Canada needs leading it is a tin-pot dictator, eh? There are enough of those already.
