There was a time when provincial budgets were religiously guarded things: if accurate details leaked out ahead of time, governments would mutter about launching criminal investigations and the dangers to provincial credit ratings. Now, the budget theatre continues. There was a time when provincial budgets were religiously guarded things: if accurate details leaked out ahead of time, governments would mutter about launching criminal investigations and the dangers to provincial credit ratings.
Now, the budget theatre continues. There will be a budget lockup for journalists on April 24, and the assembled media will have to put their cellphones in a box and sign documents agreeing not to release information in advance of the reading of the budget speech — “Media representatives are reminded that wireless communications devices, such as mobile phones and Blackberrys, are not allowed in the lock-in area. Those in the lock-in will be required to disable built-in wireless communications on other portable devices.”
But in practical terms, budget secrecy is downright transparent when there’s a political advantage to be gained.
It’s not unusual to see budget details strategically leaked in advance; if nothing else, one media outlet gets to crow about the “scoop,” and the party in power benefits from an extra full day of budget coverage — with the added benefit that the opposition parties don’t even get to fully comment on leaked details.
Is it deliberate? Well, think about this: under former premier Danny Williams, a series of budgets was effectively leaked the day before the budget speech. Not only was there no formal investigation of the leaks, Williams and his senior officials seemed strangely unconcerned — in fact, almost serene — about the breaches. It may well happen again this year.
There was a time when provincial budgets were religiously guarded things: if accurate details leaked out ahead of time, governments would mutter about launching criminal investigations and the dangers to provincial credit ratings. Now, the budget theatre continues. There was a time when provincial budgets were religiously guarded things: if accurate details leaked out ahead of time, governments would mutter about launching criminal investigations and the dangers to provincial credit ratings. Now, the budget theatre continues. There will be a budget lockup for journalists on April 24, and the assembled media will have to put their cellphones in a box and sign documents agreeing not to release information in advance of the reading of the budget speech — “Media representatives are reminded that wireless communications devices, such as mobile phones and Blackberrys, are not allowed in the lock-in area. Those in the lock-in will be required to disable built-in wireless communications on other portable devices.” But in practical terms, budget secrecy is downright transparent when there’s a political advantage to be gained. It’s not unusual to see budget details strategically leaked in advance; if nothing else, one media outlet gets to crow about the “scoop,” and the party in power benefits from an extra full day of budget coverage — with the added benefit that the opposition parties don’t even get to fully comment on leaked details. Is it deliberate? Well, think about this: under former premier Danny Williams, a series of budgets was effectively leaked the day before the budget speech. Not only was there no formal investigation of the leaks, Williams and his senior officials seemed strangely unconcerned — in fact, almost serene — about the breaches. It may well happen again this year. Why? It’s not unlike the annual Municipal Affairs fire truck tour: the government decides which municipalities will get provincial assistance to buy fire equipment and announces it once. Then, when the trucks actually arrive, the minister trundles around the province on the taxpayers’ dime, officially handing the equipment over to the appreciative masses. But if the budget leak concept now seems contrived, funnier still is the new vogue for the government “pre-budget” announcement. Take Wednesday’s press release from the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services: “The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, will make a pre-budget announcement regarding the Family Child Care Initiative. This two-year pilot project helps to develop new regulated child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.” What’s wrong with a little pre-budget hype? Well, is this such Earth-shaking news that we can’t wait six whole days to hear about it in the budget itself ? Of course not. We could easily wait, especially because the minister’s announcement basically said that, in this year’s budget, the government plans to continue a two-year program it started last year. It’s taxpayer-funded politicking, and it is a second round of announcements for the same project. If the government decides that’s the route it wants to take, so be it. The only thing they shouldn’t do is dress it up as anything more than it is — reaching their own arm around to publicly pat themselves on the back and get the most credit possible. -
Why? It’s not unlike the annual Municipal Affairs fire truck tour: the government decides which municipalities will get provincial assistance to buy fire equipment and announces it once. Then, when the trucks actually arrive, the minister trundles around the province on the taxpayers’ dime, officially handing the equipment over to the appreciative masses.
But if the budget leak concept now seems contrived, funnier still is the new vogue for the government “pre-budget” announcement.
Take Wednesday’s press release from the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services: “The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, will make a pre-budget announcement regarding the Family Child Care Initiative. This two-year pilot project helps to develop new regulated child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
What’s wrong with a little pre-budget hype? Well, is this such Earth-shaking news that we can’t wait six whole days to hear about it in the budget itself ?
Of course not. We could easily wait, especially because the minister’s announcement basically said that, in this year’s budget, the government plans to continue a two-year program it started last year. It’s taxpayer-funded politicking, and it is a second round of announcements for the same project.
If the government decides that’s the route it wants to take, so be it.
The only thing they shouldn’t do is dress it up as anything more than it is — reaching their own arm around to publicly pat themselves on the back and get the most credit possible.
