‘Standard procedure’ to vet RCMP statements, Tories say

[oneh2obabe]

Tonda MacCharles
Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA—The Conservative government dismissed questions about new RCMP orders, saying it is “standard procedure” to require federal agencies to vet all public statements with their political bosses.

Instead, the government challenged the integrity of the NDP in the Commons, saying the questions amounted to a “drive-by smear” of the Mounties.

As the Star reported Sunday, a new communications protocol requires the national police force to flag to Public Safety Canada officials anything that might “garner national media attention,” and to get “feedback” and approval before making any public statements.

It specifies that everything from news releases to background information or “media lines and talking points” for spokespersons and senior RCMP members must be vetted.

The NDP slammed the move, saying it amounts to political interference, and called for the protocol to be scrapped.

“Why the gag order?” asked NDP public safety critic Jasbir Sandhu (Surrey North). “This will interfere with the independence of the RCMP and its ability to comment on anything the minister thinks is controversial.”

The parliamentary secretary for public safety, Tory MP Candice Hoeppner, said “co-operation between departments and agencies is standard procedure and practice. This another sad attempt by the NDP to have a drive-by smear of the Canadian RCMP and it is a shame. It shows the NDP is not fit to govern.”

The Hill Times newspaper reported Monday that the federal Conservatives have expanded the communications infrastructure across government, pointing to an electronic directory that lists about 1,500 communications staffers in government offices and departments, including 87 in the Prime Minister’s Office and Privy Council Office. It said the number is a “very rough estimate.”

The new RCMP-Public Safety “communications protocol” has been greeted with mixed reaction inside the force.

Some sources told the Star it is reason for concern and amounts to an effort to muzzle the RCMP. Others say they don’t see it as a major shift, as they have been assured it won’t affect police operations.

Signed Sept. 20 and effective immediately, the policy says the Mounties must consult and get approval for communications regarding non-operational matters “PRIOR (emphasis in original) to public use.” Any communications regarding operational matters are to be shared with the government “for information only” before release.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/poli ... s-say?bn=1

[D suzuki]

let the police state begin

[grumpydigger]

This is proof, that Harper's federal government will never allow the RCMP to be accountable to the people of Canada...

The stupidity of thinking that a federal police force must clear all communications with the political mouthpiece.

This should outrage intelligent clear thinking people...........but the and the don't seem to understand the repercussions

[my5cents]

This is proof, that Harper's federal government will never allow the RCMP to be accountable to the people of Canada...

The stupidity of thinking that a federal police force must clear all communications with the political mouthpiece.

This should outrage intelligent clear thinking people...........but the and the don't seem to understand the repercussions

They are just falling in line with established proceedures in other countries ........... unfortunately not free and democratic ones.

This is outrageous,,,, where's the media ??

[KL3-Something]

I don't think that any RCMP Media release should have to go through any politician first....ever!

[oneh2obabe]

A lot of the force agrees with you on that point.

[D suzuki]

I don't think that any RCMP Media release should have to go through any politician first....ever!

yea i agree, not seeing how that will improve anything,because what i can see happing is, the goverment getting something wrong, and the rcmp, not being able to clear it up fast, your take?

[MAPearce]

I don't think that any RCMP Media release should have to go through any politician first....ever!

but a "spin doctor" would help....NO ?

[KL3-Something]

I don't think that any RCMP Media release should have to go through any politician first....ever!

but a "spin doctor" would help....NO ?

Nope. What is needed is patience. In this day and age all of the media sources have to run to press with whatever they have to beat the next guy. If the story isn't out there within a matter of minutes the source has lost it's edge. Often times the face you see in front of the camera was no closer to the incident that you are at home. But for some reason people want all of the answers out of that person within a very short period of time after the incident (whatever incident that is). If everyone could wait a few hours or until the next day for the press releases then they would likely be more accurate in the first instance. Instead they (the media) want as much information as possible RIGHT AWAY and if it come to light the next day or a few days later that the initial information was incorrect because it went through six people before it got to the guy in front of the camera it appears as if the media guy was lying, covering up or denying facts (for you GD ). When in actuality there wasn't enough time to get all of the information together accurately so in an effort to be forthwith they appear to be dishonest.

Wednesday was a classic example of this need for immediacy. On Tuesday the police sent out a notice to all the media outlets to advise that they had a development in the Armstrong murder and that they would be holding a press conference the next day at 3pm. Well every outlet ran to press with that information which told people essentially nothing. I then heard from people and read posts from people who were *bleep* because they thought that the police should have released the information instead of leaving people hanging for 24 hours. In reality all the police were doing was giving all of the media outlets time to get organized to be there when they released the info that they had so as many cameras as possible would get that face out there. But instead of waiting until they actually had something to report every media outlet ran a pointless story just so they wouldn't be the ones that didn't do it.

If people had some patience the facts would be straight the first time. Of course there are those out there who will say that is just giving the police time to cover things up. Well the facts of what happened won't change, especially in the day and age of downloads off of tasers, police cars, police radios, emails, cell phones, and in car recorders. Anyone in this day and age trying to "spin" anything into something it isn't is foolish. But people simply can't wait for the faces on the news to have all of the information before they get "the statement from police".

[MAPearce]

Agreed...We do love our dirt , don't we ?