Statement made on 10 March 2011 by Senator Tommy Banks (retired)
Hon. Tommy Banks:
Honourable senators, my question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Minister, I had planned to ask last Tuesday about the relatively new practice of heading government announcements with "Harper Government" as opposed to "Government of Canada." I eschewed asking the question then because a letter to the editor appeared in The Globe and Mail on Tuesday from the Prime Minister's office in which the point was made that the heading is common practice, has always been a practice and previous governments used it. Before I spoke, I decided to look into whether that is true. I have been unable to find any instance during the administrations of previous prime ministers before the year 2000 in which an announcement was headed by anything other than "Government of Canada."
I have looked assiduously. I have seen many instances in which news reports refer to the "Mulroney government," the "Chrétien government," the "Martin government," and even the "Campbell government;" but I have been unable to find an example that has said anything other than "Government of Canada" in a heading that emanated from a Government of Canada office.
I downloaded a list of announcements during the last few days, each of which is headed "Harper Government" right beside the Canadian flag on government letterhead. In every other case, right beside the flag on government letterhead when announcements were made by prior governments it said, "Government of Canada." I have a long list; but I will not bore honourable senators by reading it. Each of the announcements by the government begins with "Harper Government announces . . .".
This is a matter of good taste and convention. However, since this matter no doubt has been called to the attention of the government, will it reconsider that practice?
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