$90M GOVERNMENT PR FUND CREATED
By Adnews Staff
With an election less than a year away, the federal government has created a $90 million fund devoted to its advertising and communications capacities, according to a report in The Globe and Mail. The article says the goal of the government is to increase awareness of its activities, especially in Quebec where it faces a sovereigntist government, and in Ontario where advertising has been in heavy use during skirmishes with the provincial government regarding health care costs. The $90 million is to be spent over a three year period at the discretion of the cabinet committee on communications headed by Public Works Minister Alfonso Gagliano. Broken down, $57 million, in addition to the government's current advertising budget of $45 million a year, will be allocated towards straight advertising and communications projects. The remaining $33 million will be used to support two projects at the Canada Information Office. The first project will use $18 million to put together a network of federal communications officers in every province, while $15 million will be used to set up a new mobile Canadian pavilion. The pavilion will tour fairs and exhibits across the country promoting the government's products and services.