The Sixth Estate

Next time you read a letter to the editor in your local newspaper supporting the Conservative Party (or, more to the point, defending the Coalition Conspiracy Theory), now you’ll have to ask whether you’re reading the thoughtful commentary of a fellow citizen or a summary of talking points supplied by the party via one of its new social media experiments, the Tory Nation “virtual campaign office.” Tory Nation provides fundraising tools, networking services, and, most importantly, a tool that helps you select both a media organization to contact, and a message to deliver to them.

In accordance with my Full Disclosure policy, I must now inform my readers that I am a Conservative campaign volunteer. I feel confident that this will not compromise my ability to speak as a critical and independent voice during this election campaign.

Tory Nation allows you to choose to call a radio station or write a newspaper. You enter your postal code, and then it helpfully allows you to select a target media group as well as a subject. Unfortunately, Tory Nation is in beta, and so there’s only one subject you can call the media about: “ECONOMY.” You fill out the form, and it’s off to the newspaper. It helpfully gives you speaking points in the form of bullet points, and instructs you to summarize them as you feel appropriate.

I’m going to provide those here so that people can spot them should they appear in their papers, and dismiss them accordingly as propaganda. Interestingly, when a political party publishes this material it has to say it came from the Conservatives. When a member of the public takes it and reproduces it, they don’t.

Interestingly, the radio and newspaper speaking points are different (although very similar). Here’s the radio one:

The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan

• The government is fighting the recession. Ignatieff’s Liberals and their NDP/Bloc Quebecois Coalition partners are fighting the recovery.
• Since 2006, our government has worked hard to deliver real benefits to Canadians — real support for the challenges of the real world.
• Through our cuts to the GST and personal income tax, the average Canadian family of four is saving more than $3000 each year.
• We delivered more than 120 tax cuts for Canadian workers, families and job-creating entrepreneurs.
• Canada’s Economic Action Plan is working. In the first year of implementation alone, almost $32 billion in stimulus spending and tax relief was delivered.
• In good times and challenging circumstances, our government has made responsible choices.
• Since July 2009, the Canadian economy has created more than 480,000 new jobs — more than were lost during the recession.
• Canada is emerging from the global recession as one of the world’s top-performing advanced economies.
• Supporting Canadian workers who have lost their jobs or may face layoffs through additional Employment Insurance benefits and training opportunities.
• Creating and preserving jobs through investment in modern infrastructure and affordable housing.
• Supporting research and advanced education by funding much-needed maintenance, repair and construction projects at colleges and universities across Canada.
• Protecting jobs in industries and communities hit hardest by the recession.
• Taking unprecedented action to improve the availability of financing for households and businesses in Canada.

And here’s the newspaper version, which, oddly enough, is actually shorter:

The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan

• Ensuring the stability and continued success of our financial sector is crucial. Unlike in many countries, Canada’s banks have remained solvent and well-capitalized throughout the global recession.
• Investing in a highly skilled workforce means that Canada is well positioned to attract and retain the jobs of tomorrow.
• Cutting taxes for individuals and businesses means that families have an easier time making ends meet and Canada becomes a more competitive place for international companies to do business.
• Investing in deliberate, targeted infrastructure projects helps to create and maintain jobs while providing economic strength to local economies across the country.
• Creating temporary policy initiatives, like the Home Renovation Tax Credit, that create economic growth when we need it, without saddling future generations with structural deficits.
• The government is fighting the recession. Ignatieff and the coalition are fighting the recovery.

I will continue to monitor the Tory Nation site periodically throughout the campaign and, as a “virtual campaign office” volunteer, will of course parrot new talking points as they become available.