REALITY CHECK: THE NEWS THAT DOESN’T GET REPORTED

I have been trying to deny that there is such a thing as media bias against conservatives. When the media blitz against the $1 billion in budget savings came out against the Conservative government, I decided to do a little research. This humble scribe has no special access that is not available to any honest reporter and yet they were either unwilling to dig for the facts or they were content to simply regurgitate the anti-Conservative spin foisted by the opposition. It is easy to say that the Conservative government should do a better job of communicating, and perhaps that is an honest criticism. The problem is however that the media is so jaded that they take all press releases issued by the government as partisan spin and immediately go to the "critics" for a "realistic assessment."

If you will take note of the tone of Opposition criticism, you will see that they are mostly reduced to criticizing what the new Conservative government hasn't addressed yet. After the Throne Speech, "Look at what they didn't say anything about." After the budget was introduced, "Look at what they didn't give more money to!" And now after deleting money that was deisngated to a general program, but had no specific allocation, "The Conservatives are against women and want to make Canadians illiterate!" The facts about the budget cuts indicate that they were responsible eliminations of programs that weren't even coming close to their targets, and cleaning up a lot of loose money that the Liberals left lying around. The details about the Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program (ALLESP) as I have found them are as follows:

1. Since 1994, under the previous government, the number of Canadians with low literacy skills has actually increased.
2. Canada’s new Government is refocusing funding for literacy programming and directing funds at projects which deliver measurable results.
3. Over the next two years, Canada’s new Government will be investing $81 million directly towards programs for adult learning and literacy skills.
4. Canada’s new Government is committed to helping Canadians improve literacy levels NOW with a higher percentage of dollars going to direct, on-the-ground training - not more studies and consultations to tell us people need help! This is just another example of Canada’s new Government getting things done for Canadian families and taxpayers.
5. Not a single organization with an existing agreement has had its funding cut. Every agreement is being honoured.
6. This refocusing only affects future calls for proposal. Moving forward, funding will be directed towards projects that advance national objectives and deliver tangible results for Canadians. All organizations that are currently receiving funding are encouraged to apply for future funding.
7. Canada’s new Government is proud to support Canadian men and women to improve their skills and secure a better future for themselves and their families. Some of the other programs are:

• $28 million this year for the Enhanced Language Training Initiative, which includes the new Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement
• Another $900,000 for the Essential Skills and Workplace Literacy Initiative
• $73 million over two years for the Workplace Skills Initiative
• $2.6 billion over two years for the Aboriginal elementary and secondary education program
• $4.6 million for the Computers for Schools program
• $1.5 million for the Adult Education Skills Development in PEI
• $63 million a year for the Sector Council Program which supports workplace skills and literacy programs in key economic sectors

Now, dear reader, tell me that the above is not at odds with what is reported in the media. It seems that we have a fourth opposition party which influences our electoral process without any accountability - it is called "The Press." Individual reporters may not be biased, and certainly they are entitled to their editorial views, but it's time we had some honest reporting in this country. If this private citizen can ferret out the facts with a few hours on the computer, perhaps editors should extend the deadlines so that their reporters can give the public accurate information. Veritas excelsior!

- TruBlue