Our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has been adopting some Bushisms. In this instance he's trying to control the information flow by trying to control press confrences. Apparently the PM's office is requiring the media to submit their names to a list in order to be called upon. Historically, the PM (and other MP's) would walk into the Parliamentry Gallery and face the scrum to make statements or answer questions. A large majority of our journalists decided they don't like having the PM controlling the questions and decided to walk out of his statement in protest.
http://www.thestar.com/...
I think the PM's strategy is to set the list precedent when there's no major crisis. He can then appear even-handed and take a broad range of questions while everyone gets used to the system. Then, when the need arises, he would have the ability to work the system to avoid tough questions in any future crisis. Our press ain't falling for it.
How cool would it be if the White House correspondents did this. Just asking is all.
Sorry if this is already diarized or if it's just a bad diary.