Minister of Arrogance, The (dis) Honourable John Baird

[Rockie]

Small potatoes in the big scheme of things, but a Minister of Foreign Affairs who removes the word "Canada" from his business cards in defiance of government policy and plain old common sense and decency, and jokes about it afterward, is showing contempt for Canada and the citizens he works for. Wait a minute...wasn't contempt of parliament the reason they were defeated?



Foreign Affairs Minister Baird demands gold on new business cards

OTTAWA — John Baird has set a new gold standard for business cards.

The Conservative foreign affairs minister demanded — and got — gold embossing on his business cards shortly after being shuffled into the portfolio last May, contrary to government rules.

Baird then ordered the word “Canada” dropped from the standard design, also against federal policy.

And he insisted that “Lester B. Pearson Building” be removed from the standard street address for Foreign Affairs’ headquarters in Ottawa, thereby erasing the name of a former Liberal prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The controversial changes initially provoked resistance from the senior Foreign Affairs bureaucrats who are responsible for implementing policies on government branding.

But in the end, Baird won a temporary exemption from the rules — and got his way.

A gold-embossed Canadian coat of arms now glistens from his unilingual English business cards, which lack the wordmark “Canada,” a federal branding design that features a small Canadian flag above the last letter.

With the disappearance of the large “Canada,” the biggest type on the card now is “The Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P.”

Emails, invoices, memos, letters and other documents detailing the gold-card caper were obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.

In the House of Commons on Friday, Liberal MP Scott Brison asked why Baird broke the rules, “giving taxpayers the golden finger.”

The minister shrugged off the question as trivial.

“I remember a time, Mr. Speaker, when the Liberal Party of Canada used to think big on foreign affairs ... and now they’ve been returned to the time when they are dealing with $400 worth of business cards.”

The NDP’s Paul Dewar said later the minister shouldn’t make jokes about the matter.

“You know he was making fun of it and I guess that’s a way to maybe distract,” he said.

“But the point is that you’re representing the country and when you start to put gold on your card and take off the Canadian flag and remove one of the official languages, that sends a message. And he’s our minister of foreign affairs.”

The released file shows Baird’s requests for revamped golden business cards had started by June.

The minister “is requesting to have his business cards in English only, as they have always been in the past,” says an email from Annik Lapratte-Goulet, personal assistant to Baird.

“Also, the coats of arms should be embossed, with the gold ink, also at the Minister’s request.”

Baird’s insistence on removing “Lester B. Pearson” was quietly accepted, but his further request to remove “Canada” raised alarms.

“We are ... concerned about the removal of the Canada wordmark,” said one official. “As mentioned before, this is a Treasury Board requirement.”

Said another: “The (gold) coloured coat of arms and the removal of the Canada wordmark is not a good practice.”

And another: “None of these additional requests follow the TBS (Treasury Board Secretariat) rules. ... Although we can certainly continue to advise and express our concerns, we will not be able to hold off on these for long.”

Nervous public servants went so far as to draw up a “disclaimer” sheet to be signed by Baird’s chief of staff that would formally acknowledge the minister’s office was advised against the measures.

The disclaimer noted that Treasury Board over the years has revised standards, dropping some expensive practices: “Among the casualties were the costly and difficult practices of using gold foil or full colour reproductions of the Arms of Canada on ministerial stationery.”

It added: “The wordmark (Canada) is a requirement for ministers, parliamentary secretaries and their offices. ... It is worth noting that the prime minister and his office follow these standards.”

After applying pressure, however, Baird’s office was eventually granted a temporary exemption from federal identification rules, allowing him to use the non-standard business cards.

Foreign Affairs soon printed two types, one without gold embossing, with English on one side and French on the verso, for $197.75.

The other has gold embossing on a mostly unilingual English card, with the reverse blank, for $424.88. Quantities are blacked out in the released documents to protect commercial confidences.

Both versions lack the large “Canada” wordmark or any reference to the Pearson building, though “Canada” appears in small type in the street address.

The Canada wordmark was adopted by the federal government in 1980 as an official logo, and is mandated on most government communications.

Baird ruffled feathers at Foreign Affairs in June when he ordered a pair of historic paintings by Quebec modern master Alfred Pellan removed from the lobby of the Pearson building. They were replaced with a photo of the Queen in time for the summer visit of newlyweds Prince William and Kate.

The paintings had hung in the lobby since 1973, when the Queen herself opened the building. Baird later ordered Foreign Affairs missions around the world to prominently display portraits of the Queen.

Earlier this month, Baird proudly named the modern building just to the east of Foreign Affairs headquarters after former Conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker. A plaque and portrait of the western firebrand now adorn the old city hall structure, which houses some Foreign Affairs staff.

The exemption from the rules for Baird’s business cards is at least the second time the Tory government has muscled aside existing standards for government branding.

The Economic Action Plan website, which drew criticism for its partisan blue look when it was launched in 2009, was given an exemption from the rules by then Treasury Board president Vic Toews.

The Canadian Press

[System Message]

I doubt the minister of foreign affairs has time to order buisness cards. That is what a secretary is for.

[Rockie]

Read the first sentence again. Do you really think a secretary is going to flaunt government regulations, get an exemption from them, and make such politically insensitive decisions on their own? If that were the case Baird would have stood up in question period and announced that he fired the secretary, ensured he/she would never work in Canada again and revoked their citizenship.

He's a goon.

[System Message]

I demand reparations from the individual that wasted $197.75 on bilingual cards.

[trey kule]

Yes!!!!! He is the man. . English speaking..And proud of our English heritage and relationship to the Crown.
What a breath of fresh air.

Rockie, why do you not post about Quebec city signs declaring it is the "national capital". Or the Quebec embassies around the world, paid for by the Canadian taxpayers. Or the uniligual language laws in Quebec?

Wanting the coat of arms gold embossed..The bastard!! English only......does he not know, unilingual business cards are usually reserved only for MPs from Quebec.

The rest of the world uses English as the international language, and considers Quebec a Canadian "problem".

[Rockie]

Yes!!!!! He is the man. . English speaking..And proud of our English heritage and relationship to the Crown.
What a breath of fresh air.

Rockie, why do you not post about Quebec city signs declaring it is the "national capital". Or the Quebec embassies around the world, paid for by the Canadian taxpayers. Or the uniligual language laws in Quebec?

Wanting the coat of arms gold embossed..The bastard!! English only......does he not know, unilingual business cards are usually reserved only for MPs from Quebec.

The rest of the world uses English as the international language, and considers Quebec a Canadian "problem".

Who's talking about Quebec?

John Baird is the CANADIAN Minister of foreign Affairs, and it doesn't matter if he has uniligual business cards as long as he has them in both official languages. Deliberately removing the word "CANADA" in violation of government policy and common sense though is just plain arrogant stupidity don't you think? Removing the "Lester B Pearson" is nothing more than petty, childish partisanship for which he is infamous as well.

This is unacceptable for any responsible member of the government regardless of their political affiliation, especially one so senior and visible on the world stage. Try to imagine your outrage if a Liberal foreign affairs minister had been so arrogant and disrespectful.

[trey kule]

Try to imagine your outrage if a Liberal foreign affairs minister had been so arrogant and disrespectful.

Gosh...that was not hard to imagine at all. I could even give you some examples from personal experience except for that pesky little official secrets act that never expires.

The name of the building is not a necessary part of the address, and I think it was disrespectful to all parties to put a liberal prime minister's name on the building...no belle prize winner or not. Pretty much the same as the slap in the face to a conservative Prime minister when they named the damn in Saskatchewan, the Gardiner damn..

As to the Canada thing...the coat of arms says it all, dont you think?.There is more respect conveyed by that symbol than the word Canada.
.....particularily as it was apparently done tastefully with gold embossing...The rest of the world admires the Queen and our connection to her.
Maybe to appease you, he could hand out those cute little flag buttons to all the dignataries from foreign countries, when he gives them a business card.

If you dont like it, send him an email.. tell him what you think. That aught to make him think twice about this monumentous fox paw you and the media seem to feel he has committed.

[Rockie]

The name of the building is not a necessary part of the address, and I think it was disrespectful to all parties to put a liberal prime minister's name on the building...no belle prize winner or not.

Of course you do. But I'm willing to bet that if Baird's office were in the Diefenbaker building right next door the name would still be on his business card.

As to the Canada thing...the coat of arms says it all, dont you think?.

No it doesn't. When someone asks where you're from do you show them the Canadian Coat of Arms, or do you say "Canada"? That word with the Canadian flag over it is a symbol that government rules require be placed on everything from mail boxes to CF-18's to business cards...except Baird's of course. It says something in a very simple way that a coat of arms doesn't. Baird removing it from his, and only his business card is not only an infraction of government policy but a little bit of unjustified elitism implying he and his party are above Canada itself.

[azimuthaviation]

He should have the reverse side in Hebrew, morereflective of whose interests he actually represents.

[WileyCoyote]

This is what drives me crazy about this country. The country could be imploding around them and all people worry about is damn business cards. It's time to git rid of the liberal vs. conservation bull$hit and get this country running efficiently. Hasn't anyone caught on to this divide and conquer government crap yet?

[Expat]

He should have the reverse side in Hebrew, morereflective of whose interests he actually represents.

+1

[Doc]

It's sad that some of you could give a flying @#$!!

[Colonel Sanders]

If your biggest problem with someone is the wording of his business cards, you must otherwise think he is a great guy!

[mcrit]

Sounds like he is showing the bureaucrats (the TB) that elected officials are the ones who run the country.

[Rockie]

I don't know what Baird and his goon squad have to do to convince you guys how disdainful they are of Canadian democracy and institutions.

Steal $50 million dollars and refuse to answer questions about it truthfully? Nope.

Refuse to answer questions about the cost of their law and order bill? Nope.

Refuse to answer questions about the cost of F35's? Nope.

Ignore Parliament's order to hand over Afghanistan detainee documents to a parliamentary committee entitled to see them? Nope.

Get defeated in Parliament for contempt for the first time in Canadian history? Nope. In fact we're so stupid we rewarded that contempt of parliament with a majority.

It's sad that this has to be pointed out to some of you, but it isn't about what it says on the cards. It's what it says yet again about this guy and his party shitting all over Canadians and us just taking it up the wazoo with a smile.

[North Shore]

Gold lettering..whatever.
Lester B Pearson Building...whatever.

Canada lettering? F*CK You, Baird, and the stallion you rode in on. You're the Canadian Foreign Minister, and thus represent all of us not just the 40% who voted for you - the cards should have Canada on them - as well as the coat of arms, if you're so inclined.

[System Message]

For John Baird to live up to my expectations he, and fellow members of parliament would have to undo and right every wrong of every initiative of the Liberal party from the duration of my lifetime.

[Rockie]

For John Baird to live up to my expectations he, and fellow members of parliament would have to undo and right every wrong of every initiative of the Liberal party from the duration of my lifetime.

Well, they certainly rectified the budget surpluses we were enjoying didn't they? And our reputation as an environmentally responsible country. And our reputation as an honest broker in disputes around the world. And our reputation as a defender of human rights....

Yup. They're fixing a whole bunch of things.

[Colonel Sanders]

The Conservatives should be ashamed of this:

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS
Canada Has the Best Reputation in the World
Wednesday, 28 September 2011

According to the Reputation Institute's most recent study, revealed September 27, 2011, Canada has the highest reputation ranking of 50 countries surveyed.

The result was based on data compiled from the responses of 42,000 interviewees across the world. The Reputation Institute measured public perceptions towards some 50 countries on a range of attributes, including:

Trust;
Esteem;
Admiration;
Quality of life; and
Safety and attention to the environment.

The results showed that Canada scored well in all attributes and its overall result has been attributed to the country's steady democracy and high economic output per capita. Canada's strong reputation may also be the result of its focus on active lifestyles, well-developed political systems and perceived neutrality to international political upheavals. The safety of a country also plays key role in its reputation.

I for one am ashamed that Canada is ranked only the best in the world.

Obviously the Conservatives have been doing a horrible job.

Off with their heads! And, no more business cards!

[Rockie]

I for one am ashamed that Canada is ranked only the best in the world.!

Really? You should read the whole report and find out why people vote the way they do.

Here are some other views of Canada:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/201 ... uence.html

Human rights? Amnesty International doesn't think so:

http://www.amnesty.ca/files/HRA.pdf

And a little more light reading on our reputation as a democracy.

http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsMay0411.html

[Colonel Sanders]

My sympathies - this is obviously a difficult time for you. Would it help for you to post your business card here, to show us how it should be done?

[niss]

My sympathies - this is obviously a difficult time for you. Would it help for you to post your business card here, to show us how it should be done?

Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark!

[Colonel Sanders]

What a movie!!

http://youtu.be/qoIvd3zzu4Y

[Cam]

I want to point out that successive government are the ones that make the rules that are followed.

The Canada wordmark was adopted by the federal government in 1980 as an official logo

Ah, the good old days of PET.

Previous government make rules either for ideological reasons or who knows why, new governments break them and make new rules based on ideological reasons.

[Colonel Sanders]

I thought Trudeau was allowed to do (and change) anything he wanted, but no one else was? Truthfully, historians should consider Pierre E Trudeau the first true King of Canada.