OTTAWA—The federal Conservatives are blocking another attempt to ferret out details about a publicly funded $22 million international oilsands ad blitz. The Conservatives did not answer questions from the NDP about a multi-million dollar public relations push to increase investment in Canada’s natural resource sector, which was scheduled to be rolled in the United States, Europe, and Asia early this year. “Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the National Energy Board, and the Northern Pipeline Agency are not engaged in an oilsands advertising campaign in the United States,” wrote Conservative MP Kelly Block, the parliamentary secretary for natural resources, in a response to the NDP. The federal government may not be taking part in an “oilsands advertising campaign,” but they certainly did plan a “co-ordinated and multifaceted response to engage business, policy and opinion leaders” on Canada’s natural resource sector, and specifically the oilsands, through advertising. In January, the Conservatives awarded FleishmanHillard a $1.7 million contract to oversee the ad blitz in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The public relations firm will be responsible for developing print, Internet and television ads, as well as coming up with strategic communications plans to promote international investment in Canada’s natural resources. Despite the fact that the contract has already been signed, Natural Resources has been reluctant to release further details about the campaign. NDP finance critic Nathan Cullen requested that the department explain where the ads will run, how much money is being spent per ad, and the projected reach of the campaign. Cullen said the government’s response is “as close to a flat-out lie as you’re ever going to get.” “The idea that they have not been running this massive advertising blitz on behalf of oil companies in Washington is insane,” Cullen told the Star on Wednesday. “We have the proof. We have the ads and the commercials and the full-page newspaper spreads . . . . They are completely in bed with the oil lobby, they’re using taxpayer money to fund oil campaigns.” The Star requested an interview with the Department of Natural Resources, as well as newly minted Natural Resource Minister Greg Rickford, to clarify the response. In a written response, a department spokesman said the campaign is not exclusively focused on the oilsands. The Conservatives hope the advertising campaign will increase investment in Canada’s natural resources sector, promoting the country as “responsible” when it comes to resource extraction. In response to a request for a detailed breakdown of the planned ad spending, the department previously said the campaign will be tailored to “key markets” and that “key media and national policy decision makers” will be the target. Former natural resources minister Joe Oliver said in January that the details will be released in the government’s annual advertising report — after the campaign had concluded. The campaign is also intended to counter “preconceived notions” about the oilsands, according to the department’s planning documents.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:29:50 +0000
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