The Ontario authorities is spending about $310,000 on a brand new house for press conferences, which opposition events say duplicates a room that already exists on the legislature and can imply much less entry for the media.
The Progressive Conservative authorities used its new “communications centre” this week for the finance minister’s funds press convention and a technical briefing for journalists.
However it now intends on utilizing the room, within the basement of a legislative precinct constructing linked to the principle legislature through a tunnel, for all on-site authorities press conferences, senior authorities officers instructed The Canadian Press.
That’s regardless of there being a room that already exists for that objective.
The media studio inside the principle legislative constructing has for many years hosted press conferences by authorities ministers, opposition members and advocacy teams.
However that house is a impartial one operated by the Speaker of the legislature on behalf of the press gallery, and journalists are usually not restricted within the variety of questions they will ask a minister.
Not so within the new authorities communications centre. Journalists there will probably be allowed to ask one query and one follow-up, the sources mentioned, much like the format of off-site press conferences with the premier or authorities ministers.
The federal government wanted an area for press conferences that already has the tech in place and is out there on brief discover, one supply mentioned, in explaining the rationale for the brand new venue. The present media studio doesn’t function on the weekends and is usually already booked by one other group, the supply famous.
The federal government hardly ever holds press conferences on weekends.
Liberal Chief Bonnie Crombie mentioned the brand new house seems to be a approach for the federal government to keep away from accountability.
“We all know he has all the time had an utter disrespect for journalists and for the vital function they play in Ontario,” she wrote in an announcement, referencing Premier Doug Ford.
“Their new $310,000 media studio is a whole waste of our hard-earned tax {dollars}.”
The associated fee for the brand new house contains about $240,000 for development, $37,000 for know-how equivalent to audio-visual necessities, $25,000 for a black-panelled backdrop, and $8,000 in miscellaneous prices, the federal government sources mentioned.
NDP Chief Marit Stiles mentioned it’s an irresponsible use of public cash and can restrict the media – and due to this fact the general public’s – entry.
“It’s extraordinarily troubling to be taught that Conservatives assume it’s OK to spend over $300,000 for their very own personal press conferences,” she wrote in an announcement.
Inexperienced Celebration Chief Mike Schreiner mentioned utilizing an area operated independently from authorities for press conferences is vital.
“This actually looks as if an try and restrict journalistic freedom and public accountability, which is completely undemocratic,” he wrote in an announcement.
