Managing to manage the issues managers?
At this rate, Stephen Harper may soon need an issues manager to manage his issues-manager issues.
On Tuesday, the PMO’s former director of issues management, Chris Woodcock, told an Ottawa court that he had been “uncomfortable” with some aspects of the damage control strategy devised by some of his colleagues — including one-time chief of staff Nigel Wright — to manage the fallout from the controversy over Senator Mike Duffy’s living expenses.
Among those watching Woodcock testify via closedcircuit video in the overflow room was Harper’s current director of issues management, Nick Koolsbergen.
And according to CTV News reporter Bob Fife, Koolsbergen wasn’t just watching the proceedings unfold. He was also “spotted conferring with Woodcock in the hallways during breaks in testimony,” Fife reported on Tuesday night.
Although he’s reportedly been at the trial for two weeks, Koolsbergen apparently managed to escape notice by the attending media until Tuesday.
“I know Kory Teneycke would be very happy to take any questions you guys might have,” he told reporters.
In an email to the Ottawa Citizen, Teneycke confirmed that Koolsbergen is currently on leave from his PMO job to work on the campaign.
As for his assignment at the Duffy trial, it was “the same as reporters,” Teneycke said: “to relay information on court proceedings.”
He did not respond to a follow-up query on whether Koolsbergen had spoken to the witness.
On Wednesday, CTV’s Laurie Graham asked Harper if Koolsbergen had been told to “instruct” Woodcock.
“Are you aware that it is highly irregular for someone from the Prime Minister’s Office to talk to a witness who is under oath and under cross-examination?” she asked.
“These are matters that are before the court, and we don’t interfere with them,” Harper said before shifting to his standard answer on the issue.
Liberal candidate Adam Vaughan said it was all about appearances.
“The prime minister claims he can’t comment on it, or interact with anyone regarding this issue because it’s in front of the court, yet he has his staff showing up and talking to witnesses,” he noted.
“It’s more than just what could have been said, it’s what conclusions could be drawn from the appearance. It looks like you’re engaging in a legal proceeding and a judicial hearing in court when he shouldn’t be,” Vaughan added.
Teneycke, meanwhile, has still not responded to a follow-up question on whether Koolsbergen did, in fact, speak to Woodcock during the proceedings.
New Democrat candidate and caucus ethics critic Charlie Angus said he found this “over the line.”
“This is a trial looking into a possible crime in the Prime Minister’s Office, and interfering with an audit, and now we have his issues manager showing up in a hoodie and speaking to a witness under oath.”