(Liberal Party of Canada Press Release) – Prime Minister Stephen Harper must show some accountability to Canadians during this election campaign – not use the RCMP to duck and hide from the media.
In attempting to evade reporters’ questions today regarding the suspension of Conservative Party Director of Communications Ryan Sparrow – who is involved in a firestorm of controversy over making reprehensible comments about the father of a slain Canadian soldier – the Conservatives had the RCMP block access to the Prime Minister.
CTV’s Bob Fife reported that Harper’s “political aides (were) absolutely refusing to let us get near the Prime Minister. And then (they were) instructing the RCMP to pull us away, to push us away so that we couldn’t ask the Prime Minister any questions.” (September 11, 2008)
The RCMP is there for the Prime Minister’s protection – not to shield him from uncomfortable questions posed by the media.
It appears the Conservatives have learned nothing about good media relations, even after the same scenario played out at the party’s summer caucus meeting in August 2007. Party officials used the RCMP at that time as a barrier between reporters and the Prime Minister to avoid having to answer questions regarding the government’s inept handling of the Afghan detainee file.
The Prime Minister has spent the last 30 months being unaccountable to Canadians. It is now time for him to show some accountability while he seeks re-election.
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