Former White House spokesmen to pitch Canada
The federal government has hired two former White House spokesmen to pitch Canada's image to major American media outlets.
Michael McCurry, a former press secretary for Bill Clinton, and Ari Fleischer, one of George W. Bush's press secretaries, will work to secure Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper interviews with U.S. media outlets to discuss Canada, its economic system and its relationship with the United States.
“They are two individuals with experience that is unparalleled in working with the U.S. media,” said Kory Teneycke, communications director for the Prime Minister's Office. “I think it serves Canada well to have some of the basic facts of our relationship better known in the United States.”
The spokesman who will take advantage of any airtime or newspaper attention will typically be Mr. Harper himself, a leader Canadian media have long clamoured for greater access to.
“The object is not to make the [Canadian] Parliamentary press gallery happy,” said Mr. Teneycke, Mr. Harper's top spokesman. “It's really appropriate for the prime minister to blaze that trail in helping get that story out, and there a number of others who can play a supporting role in communicating in the U.S.”
The PMO is hoping to spread the word about Canada's strong banking system, its ability to avoid meltdowns seen at U.S. banks, and the importance of Canadian energy to American consumers.
Mr. Teneycke also said boosting American awareness about the two countries' integrated auto industries and environmental plans will help both governments work more effectively.
To do that, they're going after interviews with media, rather than speaking directly to decision-makers in Washington in hopes that broad press exposure will be more effective.
“To view the U.S. government as simply the administration is to not fully understand how the system works. It's also about communicating to governors, the broader U.S. business community, to congressional representatives as well. And Canada is well-served by having these things understood more broadly.”
Mr. Teneycke refused to say what the high-profile hires will cost Canadian taxpayers, or how long the government plans to retain the men.
They have already been working with the Canadian government. Mr. Fleisher co-ordinated interviews during the recent G-20 conference, while Mr. McCurry has worked to set up interviews for this week's Summit of the Americas.
“These two individuals have been helping us,” Mr. Teneycke said. “The purpose is to communicate Canada's position going into these international summits as well as talk about some of these larger issues.”
Mr. McCurry served four years as Mr. Clinton's press secretary, and now works with consulting firm Public Strategies Washington Inc. Mr. Fleischer left the White House press room in 2003. He still works as a conservative commentator and runs a sports communications firm in New York.
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