Chairman Charest's Iron Fist

Yesterday, a very significant story that has been ignored by the English press in Canada, finally got mention in the Globe and Mail -- although it was buried on page 14. Jean Charest's government is politicizing the entire communications sector of Quebec's bureaucracy. The article says "as of April 1, more than 300 information officers from all ministries will be under the direct control of the Premier's office." In essence, Charest is forcing the people paid to communicate to you -- the public -- to become partisan.

To be sure, political offices are already intimately involved in how governments communicate, but this strips all public objectivity from the process. No longer will there be a check and balance between political spin and the real goods. This is how it's done in countries like China kids. It is a deadly blow in the cage fight between style and substance, and a real work boot to the nuts of our already doubled-over democracy.