Harper's government not 'new' anymore

Aug 24, 2007

When is new not new anymore?

Cars aren’t after they lost that new-car scent. Shoes aren’t after they get a few scuffs. Babies aren’t after they begin to sit up and babble.

All of these things lose their newness well before 18 months.

But according to the federal Conservatives, their government is still new. Since they were elected in February 2005, every government website, media release that passes this desk and announcement that passes the lips of Tory politicians includes the phrase “Canada’s New Government.”

Parry Sound-Muskoka Green Party candidate Glen Hodgson said he think the oft-heard catch phrase is trying to separate Harper’s government from the conservative governments of the past.

Branding is serious business. It can shape public perception of a clothing line, a chocolate bar, a beer — even a government.

And the Harper government is taking its branding mega-seriously.

Last fall, a senior scientist at the Geological Survey of Canada was canned after he refused to insert “Canada’s New Government” into his correspondence.
When his story went public, the scientist was invited back to his post.

Debate ensued about whether or not it was right to continue calling the government new. And it continues, since press releases, as of today, still carry the slogan.

Funny, since Harper recently shuffled his cabinet. So does that mean that Canada now has a New New Government? Or that Harper reigns over Canada’s New and (possibly) Improved Government?

Let’s hope neither of these monikers is adopted. The Harper government has been in power for some time now. Heck, it’s getting hard to remember those Paul Martin Days.

Drop the slogan altogether and call yourself the Harper Government.

It works for Dalton and his McGuinty Government. The tagline’s also somewhat nauseating, but definitely less grimace-inducing than the “Canada’s New Government” line.

Besides, Canada really hasn’t had a new government since Confederation. They’ve had plenty of members come and pass since then, but the government’s always been in place.

But don’t hold your breath for a name-change.

Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement says, since his government has been in power for 18 months as compared to the previous Liberal government’s 13 years, we’ll have to live with “Canada’s New Government” for a little while yet.