Read this article recently appearing in the Sun, outlining Conservative government massive expenditures on the Public Affairs Bureau – the largest PR machine in Canada I understand.  This is a travesty of democracy, reporting as it does to the Premier and promoting the Conservative government agenda, rather than reflecting the Legislature and its various perspectives.

What are your thoughts?

Alberta’s PR tab tops $25 million

By DARCY HENTON, LEGISLATURE BUREAU

EDMONTON — Talk ain’t cheap for the Alberta government.The province spent more than $25 million talking to Albertans through advertisements, news releases, websites and communications experts in 2005-06, according to government documents.

The bulk of that went to pay for a $15.3 million 100-plus member public affairs bureau, headed by a $190,000-a-year managing director.

The province also contracted out more than $2 million in communications work and spent another $8.5 million in advertising.

Scott Hennig of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation says it makes no sense for the government to contract out so much communications work.

For the amount the government spends on its bureau, it should be able to do the work internally, he said.

Tom Olsen, one of three people now working in the premier’s communications office, said the government has to contract out work when it doesn’t have the expertise in-house to get it done.

“There are specific instances when we have to rely on the expertise of others to meet the goals of government in terms of providing information on a specific program,” he said.

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft has called for the public affairs bureau to be disbanded, claiming it is doing political work rather than just informing Albertans.

He calls the bureau the Tories’ “secret weapon.”

“It’s the Tory equivalent of the old Soviet TASS news agency.”