A lot of chatter this morning about the following:
The Liberals also accused the Harper government of violating federal advertising guidelines in cheque presentation ceremonies — the “grip-and-grin” media events where a local MP hands over an oversized cheque to a local group.
The Liberals say they have more than 50 examples where a Conservative MP hands over what Easter called “Government of Canada cheques disguised as Conservative cheques.”
In one case, B.C. Conservative MP Colin Mayes hands over a cheque with the Conservative Party logo on it and his own picture on the cheque.
Nova Scotia Conservative MP Gerald Keddy also put his party's logo on a $300,000 cheque for a hockey rink upgrade but Keddy went further and signed the cheque himself.
In Ontario, Conservative MPs Scott Reid and Larry Miller dispensed with party logos but put their own names in large print in the top left corner of cheques they handed out, making it seems as if the cheques were drawn on the personal accounts of Reid and Miller.
The Treasury Board has guidelines on government communications and advertising. Here's a couple of key points from the rules:
- Values and ethics: Communicating in a manner that affirms Canadian values of freedom, openness, security, caring and respect. Informing the public about policies, programs, services and initiatives in an accountable, non-partisan fashion that is consistent with the principles of Canadian parliamentary democracy and ministerial responsibility.
- Corporate identity and visibility: Helping Canadians recognize the activities of their government and its institutions through clear and consistent identification. Ensuring appropriate use of official symbols, as prescribed by the Federal Identity Program.