Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged journalists to "shine light into dark
corners" of government affairs during a speech late Saturday, but wouldn't take
questions from reporters covering the event.
Harper, who is known for his
sometimes prickly relationship with parliamentary reporters, made the comments
during an ethnic media awards dinner in Markham, north of Toronto.
Freedom for Canadians goes
hand-in-hand with journalistic freedom, he told the dinner guests gathered at
Seneca College in Markham, home to thriving Asian communities.
Members of the ethnic press and their
readers understand what it's like in countries where "truth is only what the
state says it is" and journalists are co-opted as government mouthpieces or
threatened with their lives, Harper said.
Things couldn't be more different
here in Canada, he added.
"Our government does not tell
journalists what to say, or attempt to intimidate those with whom it disagrees,"
he said.
"Instead we believe strongly that
Canadians' freedom is enhanced when journalists are free to pursue the truth, to
shine light into dark corners, and to assist the process of holding governments
accountable."
But shortly after making the speech
and handing out awards, Harper was whisked through the black curtains behind the
stage without taking questions from reporters.
The prime minister's staff said
before the event, which was open to the media, that Harper would not be taking
questions from reporters covering the event, which was organized by the National
Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada.
He has yet to comment on explosive
allegations that top government officials knew about the torture of Afghans
taken prisoner by Canadian soldiers and handed off to Afghan forces.
Since Harper came to power, the
schedule for cabinet meetings became shrouded in mystery, requests for routine
information can take days or sometimes ignored altogether and delays in
processing freedom-of-information requests has grown markedly.
His office also imposed new rules
that allow Harper's staff to choose which reporter is allowed to ask him a
question - a practice more commonly used in Washington by U.S. presidents.
The federal Conservatives have long
courted ethnic voters through the newspapers and other media that serve them, a
tactic used by the Liberal party for decades.
In his speech, Harper noted that the
Tory caucus includes members of Canada's diverse communities, such 'as
International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda.
Canada's Conservative parties have
always "sought to open doors" for those seeking to represent Canada's ethnic
communities, he said.
Douglas Jung, the first Chinese
Canadian elected to Parliament, was a Conservative, as was Lincoln Alexander,
the first black cabinet minister.
"I had to mention that," Harper said
with a grin.