Transport Canada unit restricts media interviews

[Widow]

Transport Canada unit restricts media interviews
Sarah Schmidt , Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, November 26, 2008


OTTAWA - Facing a barrage of media scrutiny about the state of air transportation safety, the head of Transport Canada's civil aviation unit has told inspectors not to speak to reporters or to the public without clearance so there are no surprises for the new minister of transportation.

The internal correspondence, obtained by Canwest News Service, outlines a push to move to a "zero-surprise environment" to "build confidence" with the newly appointed minister, John Baird.

"(N)o one does interviews with the media unless . . . appropriate approvals are in place," Merlin Preuss, the director general of civil aviation, told staff last week. Technical answers to "ad hoc" technical questions from members of the public also must be vetted, he said.

We cannot be speaking anywhere where our responses can get into the media without prior approval to speak in accordance with approved lines."

This effort to be "out in front of issues that we anticipate will be attention-getters" came after published reports highlighted some safety gaps in Transport Canada's oversight of air transportation.

Two plane crashes in the span of seven days, involving small aircraft also recently provided focus to the issue of how well Transport Canada's transition to a new self-policing oversight system in civil aviation is proceeding.

Under safety management systems, the department assesses the protocols of companies to manage safety risks in their operations instead of doing direct inspections of aircraft, records and personnel. The transition, which already has resulted in the elimination of Transport Canada's national auditing and regional auditing programs, is expected to be complete in 2010.

Greg Holbrook says the information clampdown is so sweeping it means inspectors can't do their jobs without fear of reprisals.

"When you use language like 'ad hoc' questions, how far does that go? The day-to-day business of our members is answering technical questions with the public and industry," said the national chair of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association, which represents pilot inspectors at Transport Canada.

"What's driving this? Does this government really want to have that close a control on what inspectors do on a daily basis to try and protect safety on behalf of the travelling public? I'm surprised that protecting safety is now a political issue."

Canwest News

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Maybe Preuss is looking after Preuss?

Maybe he does not want the Minister of Transport to start looking at how TCCA is run?????

Hopefully the press will smell a story here and really start digging....but this being Canada I doubt it.

The internal correspondence, obtained by Canwest News Service, outlines a push to move to a "zero-surprise environment" to "build confidence" with the newly appointed minister, John Baird.

Hmmm " Build confidence " huh?

Maybe Preuss hasn't got in tight enough with the new Minister of Transport yet?

What a gong show.

[trey kule]

Hopefully the press will smell a story here and really start digging....

ah...widow...you are good at asking questions....hint hint.

[West Coast Swell]

Well ... I think this is a great idea. I had the pleasure of a 2.5 hour de-brief with TSB last week and wouldn't you know it some of the confidental comments made behind closed doors were public and in the media within 2 days???? What the hell is that all about. Kinda makes me not want to co-operate with the authorities if there is a P.A. announcng direct to the public.

[Widow]

ad hoc questions?

Surely I haven't had anything to do with Mr. Preuss' apparent need for caution. He didn't want any of his staff speaking before the Standing Committee without being briefed first either ... http://www.avcanada.ca//forums2/viewtop ... 54&t=29207

[definenormal]

......I'm so glad that the $55.00 I give to TC every time I renew my medical is being spent wisely....

[trey kule]

Actually, widow, I was hoping you might use your considerable talents to convince the media to ask these questions, or maybe an MP in parliament.

When the criminals can no longer lurk in the shadows, but have to come out into the light, we may see some change.

I really have to wonder how M. Pruess keeps his job.

[Cat Driver]

Well ... I think this is a great idea. I had the pleasure of a 2.5 hour de-brief with TSB last week and wouldn't you know it some of the confidental comments made behind closed doors were public and in the media within 2 days????

W.C.S, did the information that went public compromise you in any way?

For instance can it be traced back to you personally?

[Cat Driver]

I really have to wonder how M. Pruess keeps his job.

The fact that he does is a disgrace to the office he holds, not to mention it brings the effectiveness of our elected officials into question.

[2R]

I could be wrong again !!!, but was it not the tories who promised accountabilty in government and then introduced ballgags for everyone on the government payroll ?
What next polygamy ?

[freakonature]

West Coast Swell, Was this debriefing done with any one present other than TSB and yourself?

[West Coast Swell]

no

yes

and no

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I understand it can be traced back to you personally, but it did not compromise you?

[freakonature]

I think he might have been compromised as soon as his confidential information went to the public?

[freakonature]

I'm sorry I meant to say they not he! A little diversity training needed here.

[Northern Skies]

......I'm so glad that the $55.00 I give to TC every time I renew my medical is being spent wisely....

.....I'm so glad that the $55.00 I don't give to TC every time I renew my medical isn't being spent......

[b1ngnx33]

Transport Canada is doing an excellent job.

*Paper shredders*

Transport Canada is an excellent government corporation.

*Professional Hard Drive shredders*

Transport Canada is a good, fuzzy old teddy bear that Canada trusts with blind obedience.

*People signing their life away to work at Transport Canada*

Nothing to see here.

Move along, move along.

[CD]

I could be wrong again !!!, but was it not the tories who promised accountabilty in government and then introduced ballgags for everyone on the government payroll ?
What next polygamy ?

2R, you are exactly right. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that direction actually came from much higher up the political food chain... Here are a few other discussions that we've had on the forum about similar issues:

Tories kill registry used to hold government accountable
Commission gags workers from criticizing Grain Act amendments
Tories bypass nuclear safety watchdog
Tories cloud transparency by thwarting laws
Busted bureaucrat slams Tories for bullying public servants

[2milefinal]

I can not believe this is not in the news.
If people like Widow and CD were not posting LINKS to somewhat obscure news reports I would not know about it/this.
(Can-west news ? )

[2milefinal]

...

[Rubberbiscuit]

Greg Holbrook says the information clampdown is so sweeping it means inspectors can't do their jobs without fear of reprisals.

No better way to ensure a completely amputated and inefficient organization that to rule by fear!

That said, I have heard TC inspectors go as far as speculating on the cause of an accident very shortly after the fact, much to everyone surprise. Could the be one of the reasons for this clampdown?

Two plane crashes in the span of seven days, involving small aircraft also recently provided focus to the issue of how well Transport Canada's transition to a new self-policing oversight system in civil aviation is proceeding.

Under safety management systems, the department assesses the protocols of companies to manage safety risks in their operations instead of doing direct inspections of aircraft, records and personnel. The transition, which already has resulted in the elimination of Transport Canada's national auditing and regional auditing programs, is expected to be complete in 2010.

Here we go again! There is no evidence or reports out there yet suggesting that SMS was the cause of the two recent accidents, so why even mention it? I am not saying I am a fan of SMS, but let the investigatiors finish the job they are doing and hear what they have to say.

[Rockie]

Maybe Preuss is looking after Preuss?

Maybe he does not want the Minister of Transport to start looking at how TCCA is run?????

Hopefully the press will smell a story here and really start digging....but this being Canada I doubt it.

The internal correspondence, obtained by Canwest News Service, outlines a push to move to a "zero-surprise environment" to "build confidence" with the newly appointed minister, John Baird.

Hmmm " Build confidence " huh?

Maybe Preuss hasn't got in tight enough with the new Minister of Transport yet?

What a gong show.

You are no doubt right .. And as I've said before the #1 threat to a senior bureaucrat's job is embarrassing their minister. That makes protecting the minister and not embarrassing them their #1 priority. I got that from the horse's mouth.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I was thinking about that Alaska politician who was convicted on seven criminal counts and he wasn't in the least embarrassed so what would Preuss have to do to be an embarrassment to a politician?

For sure supporting dishonesty in his upper levels of management does not even deserve a response from Pruess's Minister, so what would he have to do to embarrass his minister? Of course I do understand that dishonesty is a prerequisite for a politician so I can see where there was no real interest in Preuss being dishonest....so I guess it is just the way things are done at that level.

[Widow]

The Public Service Integrity Office is a farce. So much for the hard work of the Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR).

Perhaps the reporter mentioned SMS because that is part of what they've been asking questions about ... ?

trey kule, I keep pointing, but somehow, both reporters and politicians either miss the big picture, or get caught up in a tangent. I've seen some articles before they went to print ... and was sorely disappointed by what the editors red-lined. Sure makes me wonder ...

[Rockie]

I was thinking about that Alaska politician who was convicted on seven criminal counts and he wasn't in the least embarrassed so what would Preuss have to do to be an embarrassment to a politician?

For sure supporting dishonesty in his upper levels of management does not even deserve a response from Pruess's Minister, so what would he have to do to embarrass his minister? Of course I do understand that dishonesty is a prerequisite for a politician so I can see where there was no real interest in Preuss being dishonest....so I guess it is just the way things are done at that level.

The Alaskan Senator answers only to the people of Alaska who, after all, voted in both Sarah Palin and him. I'd suggest they aren't too picky.

The Transport Minister answers to a PM who is very sensitive to being embarrassed, and won't hesitate to deep six a minister who does so.