Tories ready to field ‘conflict of interest’ questions over
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 11:19 amTories ready to field ‘conflict of interest’ questions over oilsands ad firm
[ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014 ... _firm.html ]
OTTAWA—The Conservative government is ready to field questions on a perceived “conflict of interest” with the advertising firm heading up their $22-million oilsands ad blitz, documents show.
Natural Resources Canada hired international ad firm FleishmanHillard to lead the campaign to promote Canada’s extraction of raw materials — specifically the oilsands — in the U.S., Europe and China.
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The company was hired in January to develop print, Internet and television ads, as well as draw up an overall public relations strategy to promote Canada’s extractive sector.
FleishmanHillard’s share of the contract is worth as much as $5 million, although the government noted that the full cost of the campaign will not be known until the annual report on advertising. That report is typically released 12 to 16 months after the fiscal year ends, according to Public Works officials.
The campaign was largely targeted at the European Union’s fuel quality directive, which has since been abandoned. The Conservatives argue that the directive unduly penalizes oilsands crude, and make the same claim about legislation being contemplated in other jurisdictions.
Natural Resources Canada has said the ad campaign was meant to combat “misinformation” about Canada’s environmental record and the oilsands generally.
New Democrat MP and natural resources critic Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain) said she doesn’t believe advertisements will sway foreign governments.
“I don’t think you engage with foreign governments through advertising any more than I think you engage with Canadians through advertising,” Charlton said Thursday. “You have to do it through meaningful engagement. And that’s anathema to this government.”
The Conservatives allocated more than $36 million since 2012 to advertise Canada’s environmental record and the natural resources industry. A full $31 million of that envelope went to Natural Resources for advertising.
[ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014 ... _firm.html ]
OTTAWA—The Conservative government is ready to field questions on a perceived “conflict of interest” with the advertising firm heading up their $22-million oilsands ad blitz, documents show.
Natural Resources Canada hired international ad firm FleishmanHillard to lead the campaign to promote Canada’s extraction of raw materials — specifically the oilsands — in the U.S., Europe and China.
- - - - SNIP - - - -
The company was hired in January to develop print, Internet and television ads, as well as draw up an overall public relations strategy to promote Canada’s extractive sector.
FleishmanHillard’s share of the contract is worth as much as $5 million, although the government noted that the full cost of the campaign will not be known until the annual report on advertising. That report is typically released 12 to 16 months after the fiscal year ends, according to Public Works officials.
The campaign was largely targeted at the European Union’s fuel quality directive, which has since been abandoned. The Conservatives argue that the directive unduly penalizes oilsands crude, and make the same claim about legislation being contemplated in other jurisdictions.
Natural Resources Canada has said the ad campaign was meant to combat “misinformation” about Canada’s environmental record and the oilsands generally.
New Democrat MP and natural resources critic Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain) said she doesn’t believe advertisements will sway foreign governments.
“I don’t think you engage with foreign governments through advertising any more than I think you engage with Canadians through advertising,” Charlton said Thursday. “You have to do it through meaningful engagement. And that’s anathema to this government.”
The Conservatives allocated more than $36 million since 2012 to advertise Canada’s environmental record and the natural resources industry. A full $31 million of that envelope went to Natural Resources for advertising.