Closing ranks

I'm not quite sure who came up with the idea that the biggest problem with Harper's regime so far has been its excessive public availability. But apparently trying to make the current Cabinet even less accessible is Harper's main focus at the moment:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has imposed central control over all information and comments to the public issued by government officials and even cabinet ministers, directing them to have everything cleared by the Prime Minister's Office, according to an internal e-mail and government sources.

The orders, described in an e-mail to bureaucrats, indicate that ministers have been told to avoid talking about the direction of the government, and that the government wants them to be less accessible to the news media. And all government officials are instructed to avoid speaking about anything other than the five priorities outlined in the Conservative campaign...

"In order to keep a grip on such events [those that distract from priority areas], PMO will approve all ministerial events."...

Government officials and Conservatives confirmed the instructions, including orders that the PMO clear all public communications — including minor comments and letters to local newspapers.

"PMO will have final approval for all communications products — even Notes to Editors or Letters to the Editor," the e-mail states.

No word yet as to whether or not Harper will punish himself either for his highly distracting jaunt to Afghanistan, or even his officials' willingness to comment on the information suppression story.

That said, the problem with the Cons' action (which of course seems highly consistent with Bushco's communications strategy) is that unlike Bush, Harper and his government will have to face the questions of opposition parties in Parliament. And if Harper doesn't even trust his ministers to avoid making fools of themselves in scripted events or letters to the editor, it's hard to see what chance they stand of holding up in the face of pointed partisan questioning.