— Musings —10.22.2012 01:39 PM
Letter to PMO
Over on Twitter, I made repeated attempts to ask Gerry Nicholls about what Harper did at the NCC, since Nicholls is clamouring about what he didn’t. He repeatedly refused to answer. My “responsible communication” defence thus assured, I wrote the following letter to PMO. I’ll let y’all know when (and if) I get a reply.
I am a columnist with QMI/Sun Media.
Recently, in response to a column I wrote that made passing reference to Stephen Harper’s time at the National Citizen’s Coalition (NCC), former NCC senior officer Gerry Nicholls wrote a letter to the editor. In part, his letter states:
“Yes, Prime Minister Harper was indeed NCC president, back in the late 1990s. But he was not, as Kinsella asserts, a “lobbyist.”
As NCC president, Harper’s job was to use advertising campaigns, constitutional court challenges and media appearances to raise public awareness about the importance of free markets, smaller government and individual freedom.”
As you are perhaps aware, such “advertising campaigns” may fall within the definition of “grass roots lobbying” under the provisions of the Lobbying Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.44. In section 7, therein, Parliament requires disclosure of “particulars to identify any communication technique, including grass-roots communication.”
I made repeated attempts, in a public forum, to question Mr. Nicholls’ about the nature of these NCC advocacy campaigns, and whether disclosure took place. He made references to legal action, but declined to answer.
Therefore, I wish to ask your office whether (a) public office holders were in any way part of the target audience of the communications campaigns Mr. Nicholls referenced and, if so, (b) whether lobbyist registration was considered or attempted, and why not if not.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Warren Kinsella, LL.B
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time to call Harper out, he is simply a special interest representative that has managed by hook and crook to get into power.
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“I am a columnist with QMI/Sun Media.”
That’ll get ’em to drop their guard!
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Warren,
The shit just hit the fan!
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In Montreal, it is the Mafia. In Toronto, it is the Stock Exchange.
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If you go ahead with this article – and you should – don’t forget to mention that Harper has never disclosed who the big industry campaign donors were to his leadership campaign.
The laws then did not require it. But he tried to get some credit for releasing the names of all of the small donors. To this day, he won’t say who his big donors were and that was before there were any campaign donation limits.
I think we could probably guess, given where his policies have gone since in office, and especially since he got his majority.
Just a bit more context for his early “grassroots” lobbying days.
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Just like we don’t know and will never know who pays money to the NCC. He won’t tell you that either.
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I always prefer to leave the allegation unanswered. What people think is usually worse than what it is.
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Ha! With these Cons, what it is, is probably way worse than what we thought!
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Liberal connections?…he was a freakin Cabinet Minister…Folks around here don’t seem surprised..
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I’m a turd.
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Facts! One way to make the right choke on their faux indignation.
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Off topic.
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What does Fontana being of Italian descent have to do with anything?