General

Ottawa spends nearly $40 million on media monitoring

Federal government spends more on news clipping services than on polling

The prime minister’s department, the Privy Council Office, has spent $3.8 million monitoring what’s said in newspapers, during broadcasts, and on websites since 2008, the most of any department in the federal government. In all, the Conservatives have spent $38.7 million on media monitoring services over the past three years, according to data compiled by the Ottawa Citizen—more than the $29.6 million the federal government has spent on polling over the same period. In 2007, the Tories ran up a record $31 million tab for polling, but spending on public opinion research has since been slashed.

Ottawa Citizen

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.