Open Government? Not quite.

According to direction inside the federal government that came down yesterday and backed up by this Globe and Mail story – Stephen Harper has put a muzzle on the federal government that will curtail all government announcements that don’t fit into his “five priorities” (which – as memorized are – gst, health, family, crime and accountability). That’s right , government departments are now required to send every single press release, news item, letter to the editor and statement through the Prime Minister’s Office before issue and anything not fitting the agenda will be denied.

This is highly unusual – that any Minister, let alone a Prime Minister would attempt to silence the departments actually carrying out day to day duties on behalf of the public – unprecedented really… and on the edge of frightening. Essentially what Harper has said is there is to be no official talking about fisheries, pollution, kyoto, oceans, ports, international trade, foreign diplomacy, peacekeeping in afghanistan, search and rescue operations, meat inspection, women’s rights, post-secondary education, or countless other topics handled by federal department unless the message can somehow be tied into one of the priorities. Micro-management? Uh, just a little.

Yes, this is definitely something to be concerned about Canada – Harper campaigned on open government, but as one of his first tasks he is doing his best to silence those who actually know what the score is (and let’s not forget the “accountability” he showed by appointing an un-elected man to the senate so he could further appoint him a cabinet minster). “Risk-aversion” or unbelievable hubris? This man needs to step back a little and realize that running a country is not at all like running a 6 week campaign. The longer he silences “official” communication channels, the more he courts those anti-government “leaks” he is so worried about.

Let’s hope this lasts less than two years.