Sandbox politics

"We can't accept that the prime minister's office would decide who gets to ask questions," said Yves Malo, a TVA reporter and president of the press gallery. "Does that mean that when there's a crisis they'll only call upon journalists they expect softball questions from?" - from CTV

I'm wondering if Harper's respect for freedom of the press is for real or if it's coming from his Hamilton bred communications director Sandra Buckler. If there is a remote bit of Hamilton in this woman - the above the law Hamilton attitude just may be influencing these bizarre decisions in the PMO's office and would make a little sense that the clause you see above on the Habamus Rodentum clause from the Charter is brushed off.

Are journalists not FREE to asks questions? Even the press gallery themselves decides who is a qualified "journalist" in order to let them into news conferences to ask questions - so it's not like just anyone can ask a question.

I noticed when the Liberals were in office that the press gallery didn't ask the tough questions - I was so irritated by this I called the press gallery myself. That was after a guy who posed as a journalist was "let into the question gallery" without proper credentials - but he asked a really tough question that Martin couldn't answer. The guy was dragged out.

So I'm not exactly sure who is controlling what or whom.

I've started blogging because journalists and news media didn't cover the stories that affected me and other Ontarians a.k.a. Canadians. So someone is controlling what type of information is getting out - just not the right info.

Perhaps Harper knows how non-elite Canadians feel and wishes to take his message to the people as they distrust the media as much as this subject suggests he does.

So I'm going to say to the media what I used to say to my son when he wanted to play with something another child was playing with: Harper isn't ready to share yet, when he is ready he will.

As for Harper he'll realize he's being selfish and controlling and will be more compromising within a very short period of time - it always worked with the kids and there was no fighting.