Gov't press release overload

By Dermod Travis

After hitting send to more than 2,680 news releases this year, the B.C. government's Communications and Public Engagement Office is scraping the bottom of the barrel for any excuse to trumpet its prowess.

The Ministry of Education has issued 273 releases in 2016, including 50 in one 10-hour span celebrating new dust collection systems, upgraded floors and air conditioning systems at schools across the province.

News releases for school improvement projects in government-held ridings also came with tailor-made quotes from the local MLA.

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett noted that a school's new dust collection system will make it “a healthier, more comfortable place to learn.” 

The B.C. Liberal party gave a shout out to Minister Mike Bernier in a recent update to party members for “knocking on more doors in more ridings than any other member of #TeamBC2017 to date.” 

John Yap – who seemingly has issued more news releases as Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform than he ever did as a minister – sent out one headlined: “Get cozy with your cocktails at B.C. hotels and resorts.”

It prompted the official opposition to finally call for a moratorium on future liquor announcements.

The big daddy of news release saturation is the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, with more than 400 to date. 

Earlier this month, the ministry patted itself on the back for moving forward with cleaner, modern facilities – more commonly known as toilets – at the Last Spike's historic rest station along the Trans-Canada Highway near Craigellachie. 

According to the government's release the project “will include brushing of the grounds around the structure.” 

In case you're wondering, Shuswap MLA, Greg Kyllo, thinks all the improvements “are great.” 

Thinking ahead to next May's election, the transportation ministry is also inviting the public to submit ideas for 75 new stops of interest signs, each undoubtedly with its own news release and photo-op. 

A constituent of Delta South Independent MLA Vicki Huntington wondered about the cost of the second round of signs for the Massey Tunnel project. Huntington was forced to file a freedom of information request to find out.

The signs rang in at $60,598. 

How far overboard has the government gone in the news release department? Since the last election, they've issued more than 7,700 releases.

Under former premier Gordon Campbell, the government made do with 2,130 news releases from 2001 to 2005.

Perhaps the overkill by the current government can be explained by the annual budget for the communications department. While most ministries scrape by, since 2010-11 the office has seen its budget jump by 43.3 per cent to $37.9 million.

– Dermod Travis is the executive director of IntegrityBC.