Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre defended his campaign’s decision to block journalists from travelling on the party’s campaign plane during the election, saying it’s an opportunity to hear from more local reporters instead of the political ones that cover him full time.
Poilievre’s party announced a plan to block political reporters and other journalists from travelling on the Conservative campaign plane or bus earlier this week, a break from tradition that means it will be mostly local and regional reporters covering Poilievre’s events and news conferences during the election.
Speaking to the press at a stop in Jonquière, Que., Poilievre was asked if the ban will limit media access, particularly for francophone news organizations, which do not have as big a presence on the ground outside of Quebec.
In the past, a French-speaking Radio-Canada reporter travelled with the Conservative leader throughout the campaign, bringing coverage in that language to all of Canada.
Poilievre said his campaign will have “open media access across the country” and it will be “refreshing” to hear from reporters who aren’t assigned to cover him on a regular basis.
He said the party’s communications will be in French and he’s happy to answer questions in either official language no matter where he is.
When asked if not allowing journalists on the Conservative Party’s campaign bus and plane would negatively impact francophone media’s ability to cover his campaign, Leader Pierre Poilievre said it will be ‘refreshing’ to hear from local media about their priorities.
The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois told media outlets they will allow journalists to travel with their leaders.
Poilievre’s opponents have since pounced on the party’s decision.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday it’s “no surprise” Poilievre is “afraid of some questions.”
“You can see the way he acts when he gets asked a question. He gets defensive, he gets offended,” he said. “He can’t handle questions. Is that someone you want as prime minister? Someone who’s afraid of questions, who can’t take the heat? You need someone who’s going to be able to take tough questions.”
Singh said Prime Minister Mark Carney has also shown a reluctance to answer tough questions about his finances and possible conflicts of interest, after he bristled at questions when asked by reporters earlier this week.
A spokesperson for the Liberal Party said it’s Poilievre who is trying to dodge accountability.
“Why does Pierre Poilievre’s team feel like they need to hide him from the media and Canadians in the next federal election? He’s the wrong choice at the wrong time,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the Green Party said the move to block reporters from travelling with Poilievre is part of a Conservative “pattern of contempt” for the press.
“Democracy cannot function without a free press,” said Green Party Co-Leader Elizabeth May.
“When political leaders actively avoid scrutiny, it should alarm every Canadian. The Green Party has always been open and accessible to the media, and we will continue to lead by example,” May said.
Poilievre said he hasn’t had media travelling with him in the months leading up to the expected election campaign and reporters were still able to get questions to him.
The party will offer reporters the chance to answer questions remotely through teleconferencing.
Media outlets have paid their own way to have journalists travel with past Conservative leaders, including Stephen Harper, Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole.
Those journalists documented the leaders’ announcements, asked questions at news conferences, made connections with staff members and met voters along the campaign trail as part of an effort to bring election stories to Canadians.
Travelling with the leader ensured journalists had ready access to the party’s events, which are sometimes in remote areas of the country, or in “news deserts,” where there are few local outlets after years of newsroom closures.
Poilievre said his main opponent in the upcoming election, Carney, is “hiding in a bubble” and not taking questions from reporters.
“I answer far more questions than Mr. Carney,” he said.
In the last week, Carney held a news conference on Friday, Monday, Tuesday and is expected to hold one later today.
Poilievre has had media availabilities four days in the last week as well.Â
