DND restricts media access to Iraq-bound military
The Department of National Defence is restricting interviews and photographs of Canadian military personnel being sent to Iraq to help fight Islamic State militants, saying it is concerned for their safety and the safety of their families.
The move ends a long-standing Canadian tradition of journalists capturing the often-emotional scenes of military personnel and families saying goodbye, and of Canadian Forces members being allowed to speak openly about their jobs and experiences.
Defence chief Gen. Tom Lawson said Friday that Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) “made it clear that they would aspire to present a threat to the people of the nations who are providing forces that will be part of the efforts against them.”
Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani last month called on the group’s supporters to kill Canadians, as well as civilians and military personnel from other countries participating in the U.S.led bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria.
“There is no indication of direct threats, yet,” Lawson said. “But we are doing everything we can to ensure that we minimize any threats at all.”
On Thursday, news media were invited to cover the departure of 120 Canadian Forces members to Iraq from Canadian Forces Base Trenton, but then were prevented from talking to any of them.
Journalists also couldn’t take photos that would identify military personnel or their families.
“The typical sendoff that you would have seen in the past that would have been so open, we narrowed that down a little,” Lawson said. “Just to make sure that our individuals on their way (to Iraq) aren’t identifiable.”
Canadian military personnel have also been allowed to speak about their jobs. University of Ottawa defence expert Philippe Lagasse said this has been important for demystifying the Canadian Forces to the public. “It’s good for Canadians to know what their military is doing,” he said. “It helps to increase the public’s connection for it.”
Lawson said DND would consider other ways of providing information about Canada’s combat mission to Iraq while “minimizing, in every way we can, direct risk to any individuals.” That includes technical briefings, press releases and through social media.
Lagasse said officials may have legitimate security concerns, “but we should also acknowledge that something is being lost” with the military being more closed to the media and public.
There are also fears of a trend. Unlike Canada’s allies, the Conservative government has refused to provide information about certain aspects of the Iraq mission.