$ 50,000 for a press conference on the digital Strategy

Archival photograph of Stevens LeBlanc
The minister of the Economy, Science and Innovation Dominique Anglade, and the prime minister Philippe Couillard during the press conference of 13 December last.

Pascal Dugas Drone

Wednesday, 24 January 2018 05:30

UPDATE
Wednesday, 24 January 2018 05:30

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The government Couillard has disbursed some $ 50,000 for the organization of a press conference about its digital Strategy, in December last, told QMI Agency.

Giant screens, interactive table, facilitators with the stars, the presence of eight ministers : Quebec has put the package to present its Strategy, “a project of society” which aims at the promotion of’ a true digital culture “.

The most important part of the budget has been entrusted to the Centre de services partagés du Québec (CSPQ), reveal figures obtained through the Law of access to information. The government agency planned to spend around 33 500 $ for the “logistics” of the event and the “achievement of projection,” presented to the guests.

The two presenters of the Strategy, that the government Couillard has identified as ” journalists and leaders “, have received both a seal of 3500 $. Chloé Freslon and Catherine Mathys, chroniclers sellers to the issue of technology in The Sphere of Radio-Canada, spoke for less than five minutes during the conference. The stamp covered the cost of transportation, accommodation, writing their speech and the animation of a vox pop before and after the conference.

Another 6500 $ has been granted to the firm, Creating Shock for the rental of an “interactive table” on which the ministers have pianoté for a few minutes before the press conference. This amount was also used in the rental of digital tablets that allow guests to see the Strategy in a digital format.

Finally, the filming of the event in Facebook live, which required the use of multiple cameras and technicians, cost 1500 $ to the quebec taxpayers.

Event ” large-scale “

In the office of the minister of the Economy Dominique Anglade, are defended to have been a misuse of public funds.

“The event had to be large because we wanted to reach as many people as possible through this press conference “, explained the press officer of Ms. Anglade, Gabrielle Tellier.

“If one compares the cost of the press conference with the cost of an advertising campaign traditional, it meets the standards for a launch, and we achieved our goal,” she explained.

As for the fact that “journalists” are being paid to present a project of the government that they would be likely to comment in the future, the office of Ms. Anglade has not seen a problem.

“Their participation allowed us to achieve a double objective. They participated in the press conference, but they allowed us to reach an audience already attentive to them, ” explained Mrs. Bowen.

“There is trust in their good judgment,” she added.

The cost of the conference*

• Logistics and projections (CSPQ) : 33 500 $
• Interactive Table and the iPad (Creating Impact) : 6500 $
• Rental of the hall (Museum of Civilization of Quebec) : 4500 $
• Facilitators (Chloé Freslon and Catherine Mathys) : 3500 $
• Facebook Live (TVGO) : 1500 $
• Catering (47th Parallel) : 300 $
• Estimated Total : 49 800 $

*The costs are based on the projections made by the ministry of the Economy, the latter has not received the final invoices at the time of responding to the request for access to information.