| Subject: Re: 'I live in the wrong part of Canada' |
Author:
Ed Iskauskas
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Date Posted: 12:34:53 05/08/03 Thu
Author Host/IP: wc03.wlfdle.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com/66.185.84.70
In reply to:
By PATRICK MALONEY, Free Press Reporter per jfh
's message, "'I live in the wrong part of Canada'" on 22:21:07 05/03/03 Sat
I think the Mr Doyle owner/editor of "St. Mary's Independent" weekly newspaper lives in wrong country when he confuses editorial comments with commercial issues.
His outburst speaks volumes of the paper's name "Independent. You be the judge! In my opinion the good folks in Perth - Middlessex will pass their judgement by voting on Monday, May 12/03 for Marian Mainen, the Canadian Alliance candidate.
Buy ads or suffer bad press, editor tells candidate
By BRIAN LAGHI
Thursday, May 8, 2003 - Page A4
OTTAWA -- A small-town newspaper has threatened to blackball
the Canadian Alliance candidate in a southwestern Ontario
by-election because her campaign failed to purchase
advertisements in the periodical.
Alliance campaigners in Perth-Middlesex were seeing red
yesterday after receiving an e-mail from the editor of the
weekly St. Marys Independent threatening to urge voters not
to vote for the Alliance candidate for member of Parliament,
Marian Meinen.
In the e-mail, editor Frank Doyle writes that the paper
erred in giving Ms. Meinen coverage at the beginning of the
campaign.
"Because as a result," he wrote, "you did not consider us
for any advertising.
". . . We will surely repay your patronage in this week's
Friday edition, when we plan to devote as much space
(including the editorial) as possible to encourage voters
not to vote for your party," he wrote.
"Not only do we intend to do it this week, but we will never
give your party any coverage -- ever."
Alliance campaign adviser Doug Finley said the matter places
the integrity of journalism, especially in smaller
communities such as St. Marys, in doubt.
"I hope that this is not the case -- but it sure makes you
wonder," Mr. Finley said.
"Marian has run her campaign with openness and integrity,
and to submit to this form of blackmail would run counter to
everything she and the party stand for."
Mr. Doyle, who also owns the paper, said he felt the
Alliance was treating the paper unfairly, since it had run
an advertisement in a competing publication.
Asked whether he felt it was fair to link the paper's
editorial stand to its commercial needs, he said "we like to
support those who support us."
The newspaper has a circulation of about 3,400, Mr. Doyle
said.
Mr. Finley said the campaign has run only one advertisement
during the campaign, to publicize a campaign rally.
The campaign, which started as a quiet affair, has become
increasingly rough as parties vie for the seat vacated by
retiring MP John Richardson.
Both the Tories, under candidate Gary Schellenberger, and
the Alliance have been spending vast amounts in an effort to
knock off Liberal Brian Innes.
Last week, the Tories revealed that Ms. Meinen had written a
letter to a Calgary newspaper in which she referred to
Ontario residents as unthinking masses because of their
support for the Kyoto accord.
Later, the Alliance accused the Tories of spreading rumours
that, during an all-candidates debate, Ms. Meinen was
receiving coaching through an earpiece.
The issue was raised this week by Alliance House Leader John
Reynolds.
"The PCs simply could not understand why our candidate,
Marian Meinen, could give thoughtful and intelligent answers
to difficult questions."
In a letter to Alliance MPs, Mr. Reynolds accused Tory MP
Gerald Keddy of circulating the rumour. Mr. Keddy, who was
in Perth-Middlesex campaigning, could not be reached for
comment.
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