DND loosens info muzzle for election
Public can know of Arctic exercises, but no details of the war against ISIL
The Department of National Defence has loosened its information blackout during the election period, now acknowledging that releasing some details of military exercises won’t undermine the democratic process.
The department still won’t provide briefings during the election period on Canada’s war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIL) but it now says that information about regular exercises such as the one currently unfolding in the Arctic can be provided to the public.
The Canadian Forces launched its annual major exercise in the Arctic on Aug. 16, but decided not to issue a news release because of the information blackout it embraces during the writ period, department officials said. More than 500 military personnel are taking part in the exercise, which also involves ships, helicopters and other equipment.
“All (public affairs) products and activities are to be curtailed during the election period,” said a DND directive. “All DND and (Canadian Forces) public affairs staff and commanders are requested to follow a ‘no surprises’ approach in order to ensure that all departmental communications are respectful of our democratic values and obligations.”
After the Citizen asked how details about the Arctic exercise, as well as other training events planned over the next two months, could affect the federal election, DND agreed that such information has little relation to the political process. DND will now announce on its website upcoming military exercises, said department spokesman Dan Blouin.
It is also releasing photos and other information on the Arctic exercise. The department and military, however, will still stick to a decision not to hold public briefings on the war against ISIL during the election period, but will update their website with brief details when bombing raids are carried out. The only time more details would be provided is in the case of an extraordinary event, such as a situation involving injury to Canadian military personnel or a major loss of equipment.
Blouin noted in an email that the policy being following is “to ensure that Public Service employees and Canadian Armed Forces personnel do not act in a way that could influence or be perceived as influencing the outcome of the electoral process.”
Privately, however, some military personnel suggest that shutting down the briefings on the Iraq war could help the Conservatives as journalists wouldn’t be able to ask senior military leaders tough questions about the ongoing conflict.
Before the Aug. 2 election call, Canadian military officials and Conservative government ministers maintained that ISIL was on the retreat and the mission was proceeding successfully.
Last week, forces from ISIL overran an Iraqi military base near Fallujah. An Iraqi offensive over the last two months to try to retake a number of cities in the area has made few gains, according to the publication, the Long War Journal.
DND officials say the blackout is not new and a similar policy was brought in during the 2011 election.
Before the latest election call, the DND public relations branch issued 93 news releases between June 19 and July 31 that outlined infrastructure and other contracts being awarded by the Conservative government. Department public relations staff were required to follow a template on the news releases, where the name of a Conservative MP appeared in the top paragraph.