Conservatives set for day of photo-ops

Conservative MPs are heading back to school Tuesday for a public relations blitz of photo-ops from coast to coast.

At least a dozen cabinet members and MPs will be visiting college and university campuses, at the request of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office.

Harper's director of communications, Dimitri Soudas, wrote to the Conservative caucus earlier this month asking them to participate in an event at a school that has received funding under the government's Economic Action Plan (EAP).

"We would like to build off of the positive media stories we received from the EAP roll-out, where 80 caucus members were highlighting important job creating projects," Soudas said in a memo that was obtained by CBC News.

He told MPs their participation in the March 15 events is "critical" and in the memo they are called on to organize an event at a local university, college or Cegep, such as a site tour or an "official completion ceremony" for projects that are finished.

The Conservative caucus was provided with a list of post-secondary institutions that have received some of the $2-billion that was available under the government's Knowledge Infrastructure Program and they were asked to pick one in their area where they could do a photo-op.

"Once we have confirmation that you will participate, our offices will provide you with an event-in-a-box," the memo says.

Radio-Canada obtained copies of templates for media advisories, news releases and speaking points for the MPs who will be delivering remarks at the events.

If they stick to the scripts provided for them, the MPs will tell their audiences that the infrastructure projects "resulted in jobs for engineers, architects, construction workers and many others when they were needed most."

"I'm proud to say investments under the program have created and maintained jobs across Canada and made a difference to many Canadians and their families," the prepared speech says.

The script also says that the budget set for March 22 will "continue to focus on protecting the financial security of hardworking Canadians and their families."

A campaign could be underway within weeks if the Conservatives don't secure the support of an opposition party to pass the budget, but there is also a possibility that a non-confidence motion stemming from the Liberals could trigger an election.

Press releases from 12 MPs offices had gone out on Monday advertising events across the country. Ted Menzies, for example, will be in Nova Scotia Tuesday to "officially celebrate" the completion of an infrastructure project at St. Mary's University. Cabinet ministers that answered Harper's call to promote the multibillion-dollar program include Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, Industry Minister Tony Clement, Heritage Minister James Moore, Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis, and Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose.

Tuesday's public relations tour comes during a week when the House of Commons is not sitting. Cabinet members and MPs were also out in full force Monday making various announcements.

Map: Canada's Economic Action Plan announcements

Tuesday's coordinated media rollout is the second in less than a month for Conservative MPs. On Feb. 24, cabinet ministers and Conservative MPs also fanned out across the country to tour facilities that received federal stimulus funds. Here is a map of those announcements — click the blue markers for details.