Tory rebranding labelled propaganda

[tuvor]

Glen McGregor and Kathryn May, CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
Published: Wednesday, September 06, 2006

OTTAWA - Like the rebranding of Coca-Cola as New Coke, the Harper government is instructing some public servants to use the term "Canada's New Government" instead of the traditional "Government of Canada."

For months, the phrase has been cropping up in the government's official communications, appearing on websites and news releases regarding child-care benefits, a tax-relief plan, a women's rugby tournament and even debt-forgiveness for Cameroon. But an e-mail sent Tuesday to employees in Natural Resources Canada suggests the stylistic change is official.

"As per the minister's office, effective immediately, and until further notice, the words 'Canada's New Government' are to be used instead of 'the Government of Canada' in all departmental correspondence," said the memo from the manager of the executive documents and appointments unit in the department's strategic policy branch.

The name change isn't a government-wide policy and not all departments have received such directives from their ministers' offices, but several bureaucrats say the new title has been effectively adopted for government communication of a political nature, such as announcements and press releases.`

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=dbc4ece1-53ad-488f-880c-3b9f4b258308&k=12495

(I seem to recall one or two Canadian DUers voicing concern about gc.ca and its extra Tory-blue. That's mentioned briefly near the end of this article.)

[daleo]

1. I think this is more likely to backfire than work

People see through nonsense like this, and don't like it. Especially from a party that claimed it wouldn't pull sleazy little stunts during the election campaign.

[tuvor]

2. It's been this way for months.

I searched the Canada Forum, and found a post by Mother Jones from waaaay back on March 4.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=190&topic_id=13196

[V. Kid]

3. I alluded to this in that thread you linked too...

...but it pretty much looks like the conservative.ca site with all that Tory blue.