I'd prefer no filtering. Harper may be a good egg, but he's just put a dangerous control tool into the hands of any dishonest would-be dictator that may follow him. Limiting abuse of power by the press is one thing if its' become an enemy of the state. Limiting the power of your own cabinet to speak candidly to the public is quite another matter. Daylight is no enemy of conservatism, IMHO.
They need to get their message out and bypass the media. Also a training course on how to interact with the media and prepared talking points.
They are going to face a hostile media no matter what they do, but they shouldn't shut down media acccess to government.
The media just isn't that hard to outsmart.
"I'd prefer no filtering. "
Er, the media IS the filtering. Harper is defeating the media filter by making more communications direct and organizing them.
Harper is 100% right on this. The media likes leaks and embarrassing hallway pounces. But that's warped, there is more reality in unfiltered Govt statements.
"Limiting the power of your own cabinet to speak candidly to the public is quite another matter."
Nothing of the sort here. Official statements need to
lined up with the leadership. Makes perfect sense, and something the US Presidents have done for years.
There is zero restriction on press here.