Ontario Premier’s Bogus Visit To Niagara

A Brief Comment by Doug Draper

Okay, so someone in Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s office  looked Niagara up on the map recently and the premier and is planning a visit to the region this Friday,  May 13.

Premier Dalton McGuinty comes knocking on Niagara's door.

I just noticed as I was banging this out that we are actually talking about Friday the 13th which may be just as good a day as any for this premier to come knocking on our region’s door for the following events, according to the itinerary cranked out by his p.r. flaks.

First dear Dalton, who has done such a bang up job on the energy conservation front while he is driving around in an SUV, hasn’t he? – is heading down to the place in Niagara Falls, Ontario where ‘Big Becky’, that giant drilling device is apparently finished burrowing through another hydro tunnel, has done its work. The p.r. flaks write “media availability to follow,” but only if you “pre-register” which means they might say no to some of those who register.
Those who do pre-register and get admitted may, by the way, offer some good video and photo coverage McGuinty can use in this October’s provincial election campaign. Any questions like; “Do you mind telling us what the cost over-run for this drilling project is?” will likely be omitted.

Then after that, and this is the really interesting part, the premier is scheduled to speak at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s annual spring convention in Niagara Falls and, despite the fact that this is a gathering of many of dozens of community newspapers across the province, the p.r. sheet from the premier’s office says “no media availability.”

Now I don’t belone to the Ontario Community Newspaper Association but if I did, I would like to think I would tell the premier’s handlers this; “Either there is a press availability or don’t come, and if you insist on coming anyway, we will be taking our break during your talk and you will be speaking to a hall full of empty chairs.”

My guess is the chairs will be full and that is another comment on the sad state of  journalism today.

Suffice to say, Niagara At Large will not be attending either of these events and here, for your entertainment, we are posting verbatim, the premier’s itinerary.

And by the way Mr. Premier, when are you going to come down here, why not use the occasion to say you will do a proper probe into the mess the Niagara Health System has made of our hospital services or tell us that you might consider a change in an arbitration system that has our municipalities held hostage to police and other public service unions that are working, with their unrealistic wage and benefit demands,  to bankrupt us? How about that for a message? Would there be any media availability there?

Premier McGuinty’s Itinerary for May 13th, 2011

Friday, May 13th

11:00 AM    Premier McGuinty to participate in the “Big Becky” Breakthough at Niagara Tunnel Project that will generate more clean electricity in Ontario. He will be joined by Minister of Energy, Brad Duguid and Niagara Falls MPP, Kim Craitor.

Big Becky Breakthrough Site
200m East of intersection of Upper Rapids Blvd,/Niagara Parkway
Niagara Falls, ON
**Ontario Power Generation request media arrive at 10:00am and pre-register at media@opg.com. Media availability to follow**

2:30 PM    Premier McGuinty to deliver remarks at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association Spring Convention.

Marriott Gateway on the Falls – Hennepin Room North
6755 Fallsview Blvd.
Niagara Falls, ON
**No media availability**

Media accreditation required for all events.

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