Dept. of Campaign Emails: No CPC media plane
Jenni Byrne writes with an update
A colleague forwarded this email, which was sent out today to news organizations by the Conservative campaign. I’m printing it here, verbatim. I’ll expect some clarity on the Liberals’ plans in the next day or two, and will have much to say about all of this as a campaign approaches and progresses. But here’s what the Conservative Party of Canada told Canada’s mainstream media (picture me making air quotes as big as barn doors when I say that) today. — pw
From: Media <xxx@xxxx.xx>
Date: Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Subject: CPC Campaign Media Update - Mise à jour médiatique de la campagne du PCC
To:
Hello –
I am writing to you today to update you on the plan for the Conservative Party campaign. We want to first stress that we will be running a campaign that ensures strong, fair, and equitable media access.
As you are aware, costs for travel have risen considerably. At the same time, so has the capacity for digital and remote access to public events. Lastly, as you might recall, in recent years, media outlets often opted to deploy resources from their closest available local bureau rather than fly a journalist from Ottawa across the entire country for the entire duration of the campaign
With that in mind, there will be no media contingent on a Conservative bus or plane, though we welcome and encourage participation at all public events.
We would like to assure you that this campaign will be one of the most accessible and transparent campaigns in recent memory. We have taken multiple steps to ensure that Canadian media will be able to share any public events, participate in events on the ground, and ask questions remotely and in-person.
Those steps include:
Providing bureaus with a 2-3 day advance notice on event locations, to allow for travel planning purposes and on-the-ground resourcing.
Providing full conferencing services for media availabilities, where an equitable balance at all press conferences between local and national media will be ensured.
Providing a dedicated resource based in the Ottawa campaign office, who will coordinate directly with you on travel and any technological logistics.
We understand technology will be a critical component of this work. In addition to our normal public livestream, events will also have a professional-grade feed available, provided through Dejero, for any broadcaster equipped to receive it.
Further information on details and logistics, as well as dedicated resources and support will follow this week.
Thank you,
Cheers/
Jenni Byrne
National Campaign Director
Let me give the short version of my reaction to all this.
First, I'm not overly fussed when campaigns take wide latitude in determining how they want to present themselves. I've seen a lot. And I've read Allan Levine's wonderful old book about political reporting in Ottawa, Scrum Wars, so I know, for instance, that the National Press Theatre exists because Lester Pearson hated scrums, found them claustrophobic, and was desperate to claw back some dignity. Everyone's playing for advantage.
But just about the only thing I've been writing for three years now, to anyone who would listen (which is nobody), is: My God, you people put far too much stock in message discipline.
It's an article of faith, too widely shared, that if politicians say *exactly what they've prepared* to *journalists who would never think to disagree,* then all will be well. And you know who just ran a campaign like that? Kamala Harris.
I sent a note to the Liberal Party and they replied quickly with a link to their media sign-up page. the prices mentioned are (very roughly? It's been some time since I had to worry about the cost of staffing a campaign) in line with costs to cover past tours run by various parties. The bulk of that page reads as follows:
The Liberal Party of Canada invites media organizations to confirm their interest in joining the National Leader’s Tour, for when the next election begins.
Tour fees will be:
$1,500 per day;
$6,600 per week; or
$33,500 for the full campaign.
Fees will cover: travel, food, access to filing rooms, and wifi.
Media accreditation requests must be submitted two (2) days prior to departure in order to be processed — or for the launch of the campaign, one (1) day. All fields required. Priority will be given to Media accredited by the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, and to those committing to longer time periods.
Please contact xxx@xxx.xx regarding questions or concerns.