Harper defends public relations blitz

Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended the multimillion-dollar public relations effort Tuesday that is promoting his government's economic stimulus plan ahead of a possible election.

About 20 Conservative MPs fanned out across the country Tuesday to hold photo-ops on college and university campuses that benefited from the government's Economic Action Plan (EAP). The $60-billion spending program introduced in response to the recession is winding down now after two years.

Tuesday's events were held at the request of Harper's office and were part of a carefully orchestrated communications plan designed to generate media coverage around the EAP. The government also recently launched new television and radio advertisements touting the program.

Opposition parties have blasted the government over the advertising campaign's hefty pricetag of  $26-million and the critics say taxpayer money is being used for partisan advertising.

"It's pre-election advertising," NDP MP Megan Leslie said. "We see this display going out across the country of MPs and ministers re-announcing old announcements — this screams election campaign to me and I don't think that the taxpayer should have to pay for this."

It's about the economy: PM

The prime minister said his party is focused on the economy, not a possible election, and the public appearances by his caucus are part of the government's stimulus plan. He called it one of the most successful economic stimulus packages in the world and said the public events marking the completion of projects funded through it are part of the package.

"That is our responsibility as leaders, and as ministers, and as public officials ... to get out and work with other levels of government and move these projects forward. That's what we've been doing for the last two years, that's what we're going to continue to do, because that's what people elected us to do," Harper said at a news conference in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday.

"These projects have been passed by Parliament and are overwhelmingly beneficial for the Canadian population and have strong support from other levels of government in almost every case."

Harper was in British Columbia to announce the renewal of funding for a youth gang prevention program. He was joined by Treasury Board President Stockwell Day, who announced on the weekend he will not run again in the next election.

Tuesday's public relations blitz involved Conservative MPs making brief speeches and taking tours of the schools to see how millions of dollars were used for construction and renovation projects.

Industry Minister Tony Clement, for example, was at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus. It received $35 million to help build a new laboratory. In Prince Edward Island, Fisheries Minister Gail Shea donned a hardhat and toured Holland College, a school that received a cheque worth $8.5 million from Ottawa.

In their remarks, Shea and Clement mostly stuck to the scripts that were provided for them as part of the "event-in-a-box" communications kit provided by Harper's office. Identical "Economic Action Plan" signs hung on the podiums.

At an event in Ottawa, House Leader John Baird attacked Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for saying Monday he'd support federal cash for a multifunctional arena project. Baird was at Algonquin College to see the result of some of the EAP funding.

"This is the kind of investment that [Harper] wants to make," Baird said.

"Now we saw Michael Ignatieff wants to make investments in professional hockey teams that are owned by billionaires who employ millionaires. But we'd much rather see it be put into the young people so they can get a career and a job for the future, and be able to support themselves and raise a family."

Conservative MPs asked to take part

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 spending plan.

"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, referring to a similar coordinated effort last month.

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.

A campaign could be underway within weeks if the Conservatives don't secure the support of an opposition party to pass the March 22 budget, but there is also a possibility that a non-confidence motion stemming from the Liberals could also trigger an election.

Other Conservative MPs who held photo-ops Tuesday include: Laurie Hawn, Alice Wong, Terence Young, Keith Ashfield, Lynne Yelich, Ted Menzies, 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.

Map: Conservative announcements

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

Blue = Feb. 24, 2011 announcements Red = March 15, 2011 announcements