Sandra Buckler is stepping down as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of communications. Does this mean Tory MPs will be able to give more than their name, rank and serial number in the future?
Buckler has been a powerful figure in the Harper government, which has ruffled the media's feathers with how tightly it has controlled information.
CTV's Chief Political Correspondent Craig Oliver said while PMO's strict communication plan worked in the early going, both the media and Tory MPs grew frustrated over time.
"At one point a senior MP told me, 'There are at least 75 of us who asked to move her on,'" Oliver said.
Oliver said many senior cabinet ministers wanted to go before the media to explain department policies, but were told by the PMO's office not to.
Oliver said Buckler was known as "The Centre" by many in the government. Many ministers would cancel interviews to say "The Centre has said I can't do it," Oliver said.
"She has been very powerful," he added.
Many backbench MPs expressed frustration as well, as they were told not to do interviews, leaving their constituents wondering "Why don't I see you anymore?"
But Oliver said that Buckler's policy worked very well for Harper in the first year of his government. The government was largely inexperienced and Buckler kept tight control over the government's message, Oliver said.
But over time, Oliver said, the PMO's image began to suffer, as it became more centralized and authoritative.
Ian Brodie, Harper's outgoing chief of staff, had praise for Buckler, who was recently treated for thyroid cancer. But note this from the Globe and Mail story:
Mr. Brodie is leaving on July 1 and is to be replaced by Toronto lawyer Guy Giorno, who was a chief of staff to Ontario Conservative premier Mike Harris.
A senior government source said Thursday that Mr. Giorno has been meeting individually with members of the PMO and some of the meetings, says the source, “have not been pretty.”
However, the Toronto Star had this:
Buckler said she has a good relationship with Giorno.