The Times Advocate, 2006-03-29, Page 44
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Editorial Opinion
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EDITORIAL
Harper, media
have rough start
Canada's new prime minister isn't gain-
ing any friends among the national
media. There isn't anything wrong
with that — Harper's job isn't to cozy up
with reporters and photographers, but he
should realize his leadership may be in for a
bumpy ride if his relationship with the
media continues to deteriorate. Going out of
his way to develop a confrontational associ-
ation with the media probably isn't the way
to go.
Reporters were upset Monday when
Parliament Hill security barred them from
attending a couple of photo opportunities
for Harper. One of the events in question
was a group of cancer stricken children pre-
senting daffodils to Harper in his office
along with the Canadian Cancer Society.
Why security wouldn't allow the media in
remains a mystery, although it seems a
bizarre decision.
And according to the Canadian Press, the
Conservatives are threatening to hold secret
cabinet meetings and withhold information
about visiting heads of state. Harper's
Conservatives also plan to make lists of
media wishing to ask questions of Harper,
then choosing which reporters are allowed
to ask questions. That doesn't sound like a
government that wishes to be open and hon-
est with its media or its public. It sounds
like a government that only wants to field
questions from so-called "friendly"
reporters — those inclined to share
Harper's political viewpoints.
These moves can be labelled as hypocriti-
cal, since a large part of Harper's campaign
was the promise of a more trustworthy,
open government — in short, a change
from the Liberals. Barring reporters from
events and threatening to hold secret meet-
ings flies in the face of promises of open-
ness, honesty and accountability.
The new session of Parliament hasn't even
started yet and Harper and the media are
already off to a rocky start. This should be a
fun ride.
Closing up the borders
Canadians might not be aware of it, but the free
ride across the border is about to come to an end.
At the end of next year, a tradition which has
lasted as long as Canada and the United
States have existed side by side will end
with a new law coming into effect that
requires Canadians to have a passport to
enter the United States while Americans
will require a passport or identity card to
visit Canada.
Canadians are starting to catch on that
what happened on 9/11 isn't something
that will fade with time and the border will
no longer be as open as it used to be. The
effects of the attacks have hardened into
the American psyche and the new reality is
that security takes precedence over every-
thing for the United States.
The law will take effect at airports at the end of
this year and it will have an immediate and last-
ing effect at every level and in every area
between the two countries.
From trade to culture, sports at every level and
casual day trippers, the amount of traffic in both
directions across the border is certain to change
and knowledge of each other will continue to go
down.
Although anything that keeps Aerosmith and the
Black Eyed Peas on their own side of the border
can't be all bad, what are those who are fans of
classical music (Toby, Alan and Clint) to
do?
Locally, communities along the
lakeshore that are dependent on
American dollars flowing in to help sup-
port them may feel the squeeze sooner
than anyone as Americans look for
homegrown alternatives to vacation,
especially as the value of the Canadian
dollar creeps up.
PAT B
BACK 40
VIEW
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OLEN
But the outlook may not be all bad. Just
as the other skirmish along the border in
1812 forged an identity for Canada and
may have been a factor in Canada not
being assimilated, the new law may have
a positive impact on our country.
With the ability to enjoy all the advantages of
living next door to the world's biggest economy
along with sports and other recreational opportu-
nities and still be able to take cheap shots gone,
Canadians will be forced to look inward and final-
ly get past the reflexive anti -Americanism which
has become a substitute Canadian identity for the
real thing. At the very least, Rick Mercer won't be
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