Canada’s PM backs off on media coverage
The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, has
backed down from an American-style policy that forbade the media from covering
the return of the coffins of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Captain Nicola Goddard returns home
The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, has backed down from an American-style policy that forbade the media from covering the return of the coffins of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
It didn’t seem to bother Mr Harper when his critics in the House of Commons accused him of copying the US president, George Bush, in keeping footage of coffins returning to Canada off the nightly news, or when news organisations assailed him for restricting their access.
But grieving parents who criticised the government during their children’s funerals appear to have had an impact.
Parents like Tim Goddard, whose 26-year-old daughter Captain Nichola Goddard died during heavy fighting with Taliban guerrillas. During a eulogy at her funeral on Thursday, Mr Goddard said he was troubled by the Conservative government’s decision not to allow the press to cover the repatriation ceremony marking the return of her coffin to Canada. Ms Goddard was the 16th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan since 2002 and the first female combat soldier to die in battle.
“I would like to think that Nichola died to protect our freedoms, not to restrict them,” her father said.
But, as Mr Harper may have realised, it is probably better for his re-election chances if Canadians don’t hear regular criticism of his government at the funerals of men and women who have sacrificed their lives serving in the country’s armed forces.
Like most sensible politicians, Harper decided flip-flopping is the better part of valor.
Posted: Tue - May 30, 2006 at 06:56 AM