What you hear not always what you get
November 27, 2009
Jim Coyle
To make the most of the visit, we offer the following advice. In addition, of course, to suggesting they be very careful during that game of "political speed dating" that's on the agenda.
First, "parliament" is derived from the word "talk." Words are the currency here. They have enormous power. Pay them great heed.
So important is every word uttered on the precincts, so carefully are they chosen, that we always encourage novice reporters to get up to speed by reviewing Hansard transcripts starting from Confederation.
(The bright ones usually don't get much farther than World War I before the penny drops.)
Second, on no account be fooled during your visit by any snores emanating from press gallery offices.
Therein dwell hyper-alert specialists expert in the business of analyzing and interpreting the millions of words that pass yearly across their consciousness. To be sure, no Cold War Kremlinologist was more expert at piercing the facade of calculated misdirection and concealment.
Let's take a recent example – the proposed harmonization of Ontario's retail sales tax with the federal GST.
But for heaven's sakes, kids, don't try this at home. Not everyone is qualified to follow this debate. What seems clear to the untutored can turn out to be a cruel mirage.
For instance, here's Premier Dalton McGuinty in recent months and years on the matter of harmonizing the federal and provincial taxes:
"I'm not going to be harmonizing our taxes."
"My concern about harmonization is we would have to add PST to so many consumer items that are presently exempt."
"Harmonization of those two taxes would lead to a net increase in taxes for the province of Ontario and for Ontarians."
To ever get his support, harmonization would have to be revenue neutral not just from a government perspective but "from an Ontario consumer perspective."
Nothing could be clearer, you might say.
Now, let's consider PC Leader Tim Hudak's view on the same matter:
"There's little sense in allowing two separate governments to apply two separate taxes and policies and collect two separate groups of sales taxes."
"We understand how that (harmonization) can help the economy."
And, for the sake of further clarification, former interim PC leader Bob Runciman:
"Our party is supportive of harmonization."
"We think it's something that should occur."
At least as clear a stand as the premier's.
As to the value of holding public hearings on matters of public importance, McGuinty had chosen his words carefully there, too.
"Public hearings: those words go together nicely if you believe in true democracy."
So, as anyone can see, it's clear that Dalton McGuinty opposes the HST, Tim Hudak supports it, and the premier is insisting on public hearings into it.
And that's where you separate the amateurs from the trained professionals.
The learned know that, in fact, McGuinty is committed to the HST, Hudak's against it, and the premier is refusing public hearings.
Which brings us to the last thing the students should know.
No one is really equipped to cover politics without first having read Lewis Carroll's, Through the Looking Glass.
"When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean," said Humpty Dumpty. "Neither more, nor less."
And that, kids, is why most political journalists have IQs of genius level and make upwards of $2 million a year. Because, around this place, you just can't believe everything you hear.
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