Keith Beardsley: Michaelle Jean's high-priced safari
Posted: April 21, 2010, 11:00 AM by Kelly McParland
Article Link
Governor General Michaelle Jean is off on an African tour of some 8 days. For what purpose?
It certainly serves someone’s agenda to have her highlighting African problems at this time. As mentioned yesterday, is someone trying to sway public opinion before a decision on Canada’s participation in the Congo mission is made? And what is this media tour costing Canadians at a time of restraint?
You may recall Adriene Clarkson’s $5-million polar tour in 2004. Perhaps Rideau Hall will tell us what this tour is costing too? The cost comes out of a budget, therefore before leaving on this tour; Rideau Hall had to cost it. Let us see the numbers now and not six months from now after she has been replaced.
We know from media reports that she is tying up the Canadian Forces Airbus on this journey. I recall from my days in Opposition Research that a figure of $7,500 to 10,000 and hour to operate an aircraft of that size would not be out of the norm. That Airbus seats 194 passengers (DND web site). According to Rideau Hall’s media release the Governor General has nine guests called delegates on this trip. Even allowing for a few media types and other staff on board that means this plane is flying virtually empty.
One of the purposes of the trip is to promote journalism in these four African countries. We know this because Rideau Hall sent out a press release to tell us so. Yet over the eight day period the media are not permitted at some 12 events and allowed only a photo op at six events and at two others it is still to be discussed.
On Wednesday the 14th there was one event, essentially her arrival in Senegal.
On Thursday the 15th there are eight events with government officials and only one community level event at a day care facility.
Friday the 16th, sees six events which would include three events that with a stretch could be said to be at the community level IE a university speech.
On Saturday the 17, 4 events two with people at the local level.
Sunday the 18th, four events including her departure from Senegal and arrival in the Congo. One event with representatives of Congolese society might with a bit of imagination be called a community level event.
Monday the 19th sees six events with only one at the community level when she visits a clinic.
Tuesday the 20th, six events, one at a hospital to highlight sexual violence against women.
Wednesday the 21st has seven events of which one was an event on reconciliation in Rwanda.
Thursday the 22nd, seven events, of which three are outside of government officialdom.
Friday the 23rd, five events all with officials.
Saturday the 24th, four events all of which can be considered community or people related.
To sum of the visit, eight days of travel of which there are 17 meetings or events that involve the local people and 41 events with government officials.
I am sure these official events accomplish quite a lot of good; after all, the Governor General is an intelligent and charming person. But what purpose has this trip served other than to allow plenty of media discussion and file footage of troubles in Africa? Would these African countries struggling to move away from their own colonial past appreciate speeches and lectures from some one representing Canada’s colonial past? Would her presence convince the leader of the Congo of his errant ways? Not likely.
As a lame duck Governor General in the last few months of her term, did she need to go to Africa? Why not stay in Canada and use these few months to reinforce and highlight issues here such as health and poverty and educational needs in our First Nations communities? Why not concentrate on the homeless or poverty in our inner cities?
The Governor General didn’t just wake up one morning and say lets go to Africa. These trips take many months of planning. She has advisors who would recommend tours to her, there would be endless bureaucratic meetings prior to a decision being made. It would be interesting to know who recommended this trip to her? Which departments pushed for this trip at this time? Just whose agenda or game plan is this trip following? An interesting tour for sure, but the question remains why and why at this time?
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Posted: April 21, 2010, 11:00 AM by Kelly McParland
Article Link
Governor General Michaelle Jean is off on an African tour of some 8 days. For what purpose?
It certainly serves someone’s agenda to have her highlighting African problems at this time. As mentioned yesterday, is someone trying to sway public opinion before a decision on Canada’s participation in the Congo mission is made? And what is this media tour costing Canadians at a time of restraint?
You may recall Adriene Clarkson’s $5-million polar tour in 2004. Perhaps Rideau Hall will tell us what this tour is costing too? The cost comes out of a budget, therefore before leaving on this tour; Rideau Hall had to cost it. Let us see the numbers now and not six months from now after she has been replaced.
We know from media reports that she is tying up the Canadian Forces Airbus on this journey. I recall from my days in Opposition Research that a figure of $7,500 to 10,000 and hour to operate an aircraft of that size would not be out of the norm. That Airbus seats 194 passengers (DND web site). According to Rideau Hall’s media release the Governor General has nine guests called delegates on this trip. Even allowing for a few media types and other staff on board that means this plane is flying virtually empty.
One of the purposes of the trip is to promote journalism in these four African countries. We know this because Rideau Hall sent out a press release to tell us so. Yet over the eight day period the media are not permitted at some 12 events and allowed only a photo op at six events and at two others it is still to be discussed.
On Wednesday the 14th there was one event, essentially her arrival in Senegal.
On Thursday the 15th there are eight events with government officials and only one community level event at a day care facility.
Friday the 16th, sees six events which would include three events that with a stretch could be said to be at the community level IE a university speech.
On Saturday the 17, 4 events two with people at the local level.
Sunday the 18th, four events including her departure from Senegal and arrival in the Congo. One event with representatives of Congolese society might with a bit of imagination be called a community level event.
Monday the 19th sees six events with only one at the community level when she visits a clinic.
Tuesday the 20th, six events, one at a hospital to highlight sexual violence against women.
Wednesday the 21st has seven events of which one was an event on reconciliation in Rwanda.
Thursday the 22nd, seven events, of which three are outside of government officialdom.
Friday the 23rd, five events all with officials.
Saturday the 24th, four events all of which can be considered community or people related.
To sum of the visit, eight days of travel of which there are 17 meetings or events that involve the local people and 41 events with government officials.
I am sure these official events accomplish quite a lot of good; after all, the Governor General is an intelligent and charming person. But what purpose has this trip served other than to allow plenty of media discussion and file footage of troubles in Africa? Would these African countries struggling to move away from their own colonial past appreciate speeches and lectures from some one representing Canada’s colonial past? Would her presence convince the leader of the Congo of his errant ways? Not likely.
As a lame duck Governor General in the last few months of her term, did she need to go to Africa? Why not stay in Canada and use these few months to reinforce and highlight issues here such as health and poverty and educational needs in our First Nations communities? Why not concentrate on the homeless or poverty in our inner cities?
The Governor General didn’t just wake up one morning and say lets go to Africa. These trips take many months of planning. She has advisors who would recommend tours to her, there would be endless bureaucratic meetings prior to a decision being made. It would be interesting to know who recommended this trip to her? Which departments pushed for this trip at this time? Just whose agenda or game plan is this trip following? An interesting tour for sure, but the question remains why and why at this time?
end
