Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Tories’ ad blitz for Economic Action Plan cost taxpayers $21M in 2011-12

OTTAWA — The Harper government spent $21 million on major advertising campaigns under its Economic Action Plan brand in 2011-12.

The latest annual report on federal ad spending shows Ottawa shelled out $78.5 million that year telling Canadians about everything from the switch to digital TV and the War of 1812, to elder abuse and anti-drug messaging.

In 2005-06, Ottawa spent $41.3 million on advertising, a number the Conservatives have almost doubled in every year since taking office in January 2006.

Campaigns under the Economic Action Plan logo, with its blue and green upward arrows, dominate the spending.

The Economic Action Plan was coined for the 2009 stimulus budget during a global recession — but it has been maintained by the Conservatives as an all-purpose brand for feel-good government measures.

Despite government polling that suggests diminishing returns, it continues to be heavily promoted with “action plan” ads currently being aired by the Canada Revenue Agency, Natural Resources Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

Original Article
Source: nationalpost.com
Author: CP

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