From the April 30th online Hansard a question asked by Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP) regarding Harpers increasing control freakishness.

Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, while meeting with the public accounts committee yesterday, Auditor General Sheila Fraser told us that she and other independent officers of Parliament were ordered to have their communications material and media releases vetted by the government. This is an unprecedented attempt to violate the autonomy of these independent officers.

 

Will the Prime Minister today withdraw this order and acknowledge that the independence of officers of Parliament must be respected and protected?

 

Hon. Vic Toews (President of the Treasury Board, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House that this government respects the independence of each and every officer of the House.

 

I might add that I was having quite a wonderful time listening to the Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board explain about the problems of the Liberal Party. I hope the members ask more questions in that respect.

 

Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General, the Ethics Commissioner, the Chief Electoral Officer, the Privacy and Information Commissioner and others are independent officers. This should be an easy concept to grasp. Demanding that they vet their work through PCO is an attack on their independence.

 

The Auditor General said yesterday, “My communications strategies aren’t going to PCO”. It appears we have a standoff.

 

Does the Prime Minister of Canada really want to pick a fight with the Auditor General of Canada?

 

Hon. Vic Toews (President of the Treasury Board, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I can assure you that we respect the independence of the officers of Parliament and this government would not do anything inconsistent with the independent role of those officers.

– no answer given, nor even a small hint of a denial that the PMO has not issued those instructions to independent officers of Parliament.

Seek help Stephen, it don’t matter who you are, you can’t control everything.