Shoved out of the Harpers inner sanctum at the end of June, his PR/Media point man Geoff Norquay went through the revolving door that is Ottawa and ended up at the prestigous lobbying firm of Earnscliffe, faster than you can say 'cooling off period'.
Earnscliffe is one of Canada's top lobbying firms with Liberal ties. Ironic that eh, Geoff went from being the Conservative flack on point about Liberal corruption and Earnscliffe's involvement to becoming a flack for Earnscliffe.
Earnscliffe, known for many years as a firm that employed several of Prime Minister Paul Martin's key political supporters, was hired to do polling and communications work on budgets and fiscal updates during Mr. Martin's tenure as finance minister from 1993 to 2002. His successor in finance, John Manley, ended the contract.
He must be replacing David Herle who has left Earnscliffe to work full time for his boss PM. And we all remember the little faux pas that David and his pals in the PMO pulled off just a week before the election was called. Untendered deal went to campaign manager David Herle provided mini-budget advice and polling to Liberals in federal contract
Do you think maybe Geoff let his pals in the Conservatives know about this little contract? Nah perish the thought. On the other hand Earnscliffe is being smart to begin to distance itself from the Liberals and just in case the Harper wins, have an ace in the hole like they have always had in the PMO.
Which is why it's only the NDP that's credible about a cooling off period for Ottawa's revolving door of lobbyists.
The Conservatives have it in their platform too, but Geoff's rush to the arms of Earnscliffe, before the door out of the Leader of the Oppostions office hit him on the ass, makes a joke out of that.
If the Liberals put accountability for lobbyists in their platform it would be a conflict of interest.
New chant for both Harper and Martin rallies; Earnscliffe! Earnscliffe!
Earnscliffe is one of Canada's top lobbying firms with Liberal ties. Ironic that eh, Geoff went from being the Conservative flack on point about Liberal corruption and Earnscliffe's involvement to becoming a flack for Earnscliffe.
Earnscliffe, known for many years as a firm that employed several of Prime Minister Paul Martin's key political supporters, was hired to do polling and communications work on budgets and fiscal updates during Mr. Martin's tenure as finance minister from 1993 to 2002. His successor in finance, John Manley, ended the contract.
He must be replacing David Herle who has left Earnscliffe to work full time for his boss PM. And we all remember the little faux pas that David and his pals in the PMO pulled off just a week before the election was called. Untendered deal went to campaign manager David Herle provided mini-budget advice and polling to Liberals in federal contract
Do you think maybe Geoff let his pals in the Conservatives know about this little contract? Nah perish the thought. On the other hand Earnscliffe is being smart to begin to distance itself from the Liberals and just in case the Harper wins, have an ace in the hole like they have always had in the PMO.
Which is why it's only the NDP that's credible about a cooling off period for Ottawa's revolving door of lobbyists.
The Conservatives have it in their platform too, but Geoff's rush to the arms of Earnscliffe, before the door out of the Leader of the Oppostions office hit him on the ass, makes a joke out of that.
If the Liberals put accountability for lobbyists in their platform it would be a conflict of interest.
New chant for both Harper and Martin rallies; Earnscliffe! Earnscliffe!
Lemme get this straight.... the behaviour of a single fired CPC staffer undermines the CPC's credibility?
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the CPC kicked out a guy like that should be applauded, not heckled, no? Can we at least attack the CPC is a logical fashion here?
It wasn't a single staffer it was over a half dozen that left Harpers inner sanctum between the end of June and the begining of September.
ReplyDeleteGeoff and Harper went head to head over a couple of issues and he and the rest of the media/strategy team left with him at the end of June.
Harper spin doctors call it quits as Tories launch pre-election campaign And Geoff wasn't fired he quit.
It was in August that the Harper fired his Chief of Staff.Harper's chief of staff Phil Murphy has been given his walking papers
It seems that if David Herle works for Earnscliffe and the PMO the CPC howls for blood. When one of their own now becomes a major lobbyist with Earnscliffe there is silence.
Again it raises the questionable promise they make of limiting lobbyists in Ottawa. Especially now that one of their own in with a company that brags on its web page of its years of influencing the PMO.
The NDP raised the accountability issue and lobbyists since last election pointing out the PMO and the lobbyist connection, with little support from the Conservatives.
So yeah I believe if you even look at the link in the article to David Frums comment recently Earnscliffe is tied to the Liberal scandals, as Kinsella took pains to point out during the Adscam hearings. Why would Geoff going over to the dark side not be questionable.
Just because he doesn't get along with Harper, does not mean he still isn't a Conservative loyalist which he has been for years despite who was party leader.
I find it interesting there has been no coverage of this by the MSM or the pundits. The only reference I heard, that tweeked me to this was en passant on Don Newmans show where it was a casual toss off with some giggles... Hee Hee isn't this rich...
Now I could be blowing smoke as you imply, but where there's smoke....
You're right, it is quite the revolving door. Lorne Nystrom
ReplyDeleteWhile the NDP was first out of the gate with their plan, the CPC Accountability act has been widely acclaimed as the most comprehensive plan ever proposed. The CPC plan sets the period as 5 years, and any exemptions granted by the Ethics Commissioner must be published in writing.
On the other hand, I appreciate your endorsement of Stephen Harper for the PMO.
See My Blahgs comment on Lobbyists in the Tory War Room. As for the PMO well Earnscliffe is keeping its bases covered, don't read too much into that...they know that whatever happens the Harper will be gone and they want someone with Conservative Party pull to have the ear of the new leader, PM. No not Paul Martin the other PM.Harper Watch
ReplyDelete