The Harper rule must be that the larger the lie, the larger the advertising budget has to be. And if the federal government only spent $21 million to lie to us about The Economic Action Plan in the past fiscal year, think of how much they will ramp it up for the election two years from now. Can Canadians afford it?
And it is not just the paid advertising. The big lie of The Economic Action Plan is seamlessly applied to all government announcements, ministerial speeches and planned appearances of Stephen Harper. Those exposition backdrops put up as background for the speech or remarks make sure that the theme is clearly visible in every camera shot. And all speeches are carefully vetted to ensure continuity of the theme. Is there a schoolchild in Canada who does not know that the bountiful Harper Government has an “Economic Action Plan” to benefit all Canadians?
What is particularly disturbing is the increased concentration of ownership of Canadian media—particularly among friends of the Harper government. Nobody seems to want to question this increasing mind control. And judging by the quality of the Conservative MPs in the Harper government, few seem capable.
Introduced in 2009, The Economic Action Plan theme has become better known than the Conservative Party’s stylized “C.” In that first year, the Harper government spent $41.3 million on advertising and has come close to doubling the figure every year since. It hardly matters what the government is promoting but some of the less subtle messages are extremely annoying.
Have you noted the new oil tanker in one of the most used versions of the television commercials? After reducing staff in maritime inspection, you have to wonder what the government is promoting in the way of tanker safety. And including foolish tax cuts from more than five years ago is hardly part of any sensible economic action plan.
Initially The Economic Action Plan was used to promote the government’s desperate use of municipal infrastructure programs in the face of the world economic crisis of 2008. While the stability of Canadian banks saved us from being hit as hard as other countries, the Harper government’s providing extra funding for municipal programs was gratuitous, ill-advised and the wrong thing to do. It has left us with municipal taxes that are outrageously high for what we getting today and a serious lack of industrial employment for our young people. The sad reminder that Stephen Harper was trained as an economist is a very bad joke.
-30-
Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]