If the medium is the message, should we be even a little bit surprised that Canada's sitting government is trying to control the former?
On Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the launch of a new video series promising to keep Canadians “in the know” with a weekly ration of edited government updates to trumpet Tory achievements.
With “The Maple Leaf Forever” playing in the background, the first episode of “24 Seven” features a highlight reel of the prime minister’s travels from Vancouver to Inuvik and the appointment of Canada’s new ambassador to Israel.
Noticeably absent from the week's play-by-play is acknowledgement of the prime minister's run-in with climate change activists, crowds of protesters, and fresh criticism over claims the government is destroying Department of Fisheries and Oceans research.
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea has since denied accusations her department is stifling science, calling the reports "serious misinformation."
The prime minister's new “video magazine” project is the latest effort to soften Harper’s reputation for being secretive. However, it’s also being construed as an attempt by the PMO to circumvent mainstream media and avoid hard questions about the Senate scandal.
Other world leaders have also taken similar initiatives: U.S. President Barack Obama offers weekly updates with his "West Wing Week" series, and footage from North Korea offers the public an inside look at the inner workings of the secretive state.
Last year, Canadians were privy to a rare glimpse into the prime minister’s life when photos of his daily routine were shared on Twitter and Flickr in January.
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Stephen Harper In B.C. 2014
Stephen Harper In B.C. 2014(01 of84)
Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper's January 2014 visit to British Columbia has been met with protests. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Stephen Harper visited Vancouver Island in January 2014. (credit:CP)
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper gestures while participating in a moderated question and answer session with the B.C. Chamber of Commerce in Vancouver on March 12, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
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A protestor holds a sign during an event with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Vancouver Board of Trade on Monday Jan. 6, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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A protestor holds a sign during an event with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Vancouver Board of Trade on Monday Jan. 6, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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A protestor holds a sign during an event with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Vancouver Board of Trade on Monday Jan. 6, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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A protestor holds a sign during an event with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Vancouver Board of Trade on Monday Jan. 6, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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A protestor is escorted away after holding up a sign during an event with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Vancouver Board of Trade on Monday Jan. 6, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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A protester holds a sign during an event with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Vancouver Board of Trade on Monday Jan. 6, 2013. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
Beer Me!(31 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets behind the bar at the Victoria pub in Montreal Friday, March 16, 2012 where he stopped in to meet some supporters and have a drink for St. Patricks Day. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)
❤(32 of84)
Stephen Harper and wife Laureen in 2011. Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
You Eat Half, And I'll Eat Half(33 of84)
Conservative leader Stephen Harper and Laureen Harper stand next to a tray of hot cross buns at a bakery in Mississauga, on April 23, 2011. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
Cuddle Time!(34 of84)
Stephen Harper with wife Laureen and their chinchilla Charlie.Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
Easy Rider(35 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper waves after going for an ATV ride as he visits a farm for a campaign event in Wainfleet Ont., on Monday, April 4, 2011. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
Nom Nom Nom(36 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper eats maple taffy as he visits a sugar shack in Norbertville, Quebec on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
Muahhh(37 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives his wife Laureen a kiss following a day of G-20 meetings in Toronto. June 27, 2010. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Jill Propp, Pm.gc.ca)
Can I Keep Them?(38 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper plays with foster kittens at 24 Sussex. May 1, 2010.Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Deb Ransom, Pm.gc.ca)
Incoming!(39 of84)
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper throws a small snowball at photographers after talking with reporters at a campaign stop in Guelph, Ontario Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006. (credit:CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)
Thank God You're Not Wearing Overalls(40 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives Taylor Swift the book "Maple Leaf Forever" before her concert at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. May 20, 2010. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Deb Ransom, Pm.gc.ca)
Wedding Crasher(41 of84)
Stephen Harper surprises an Ottawa couple on their wedding day in 2012. (credit:Laura Kelly Photography)
Yep, Definitely A Cat Person(42 of84)
Laureen Harper laughs as she holds a husky dog with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as they tour Caribou Crossing, Yukon, south of Whitehorse Monday August 20, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
Harper Road(43 of84)
Stephen Harper, his children Ben and Rachel, and wife Laureen cross Abbey Road in 2009. Source: Facebook (credit:Facebook)
Bonjour, Bonhomme(44 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper hams it up with Bonhomme Carnaval in the Prime Minister's Centre Block Office. November 25, 2010. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Jason Ransom, Pm.gc.ca)
Trendsetter(45 of84)
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, far left, watches a third round match between Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, and Serbia's Jelena Jankovic with his children Rachel, center, and Benjamin, right, at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, in New York. (credit:AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Psst! I Like Your Hat(46 of84)
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 1, 2011. (credit:GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images)
Whoops, How Did This Get In Here...(47 of84)
Part of a painting of Prime Minister Stephen Harper fully nude, by Kingston artist Maggie Sutherland, is shown at the Central Kingston public library in Kingston, Ont. on May 18, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg)
Giggle Fit!(48 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his son Ben watch a bloopers show while attending the Calgary Flames NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers in Calgary, Saturday, April 11, 2009. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
In The Key Of C Major(49 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper practices a few chords after arriving at home from work. February 19, 2011. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Jason Ransom, Pm.gc.ca)
Love You, Mom(50 of84)
Conservative leader Stephen Harper gets a hug from his mother Margaret during a visit to his campaign office in Calgary, Saturday May 29, 2004. (credit:CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld)
We Can't All Grow A Pirate 'Stache Like Trudeau(51 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper holds up a moustache scarf to kick off the start of ‘Movember’, November 1, 2012Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
The Sweet Side Of Politics(52 of84)
Senior Legislative Assistant, Katherine Locke, left, and Government House Leader Special Assistant, Zoe Lawson, show off their House of Commons gingerbread house to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in his office on Dec. 16, 2010. The gingerbread house was filled with rows of gummi bears as members of Parliament. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Jason Ransom, Pm.gc.ca)
Beach Boy(53 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper waves to tourists as he walks on the beach after the closing of the VI Summit of the Americas on April 15, 2012 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. (credit:EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images)
Game Face(54 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper plays a game of table tennis with Team Canada's Mo Zhang at Canada House in London on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
Whaddya Mean It Doesn't Fit?(55 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tries on an old hockey helmet at he tours the Yukon's Hockey History exhibit at the McBride Museum in Whitehorse, Yukon on Thursday, August 25, 2011. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
Goooaaaaallll!(56 of84)
Stephen Harper, his son Ben, and Wayne Gretzky watch the men's ice hockey team's gold medal game at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
Who Said Politics Can't Be Fun?(57 of84)
Stephen Harper and his son Ben hit balloons into the crowd after his speech at the party's three-day policy convention in Montreal on Friday March 18, 2005. (credit:CP PHOTO/Ryan Remiorz)
Jam Sesh(58 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Jamie Robinson (guitar) play along with Blue Rodeo's front man Jim Cuddy, and recording artist Jimmy Rankin as they belt out a tune during a Juno Awards reception at 24, Sussex March 31, 2012. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Jill Thompson, Pm.gc.ca)
Party Politics(59 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, looks up from dishing out pancakes at Stampede breakfast in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, July 10, 2011. (credit:Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
I Spy Something Cute(60 of84)
Stephen Harper welcomes two Chinese pandas at Toronto's Pearson Airport on March 25, 2013. Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
Flashback(61 of84)
A young Stephen Harper.
Just Smile And Back Away Slowly(62 of84)
Clowns ham it up with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick. July 19, 2010. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Jill Propp, Pm.gc.ca)
Hats Off(63 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, throws Senator Gerry St. Germain's cowboy hat into the crowd after presenting him with a new one as his wife Margaret St. Germain, right, laughs during a barbecue at St. Germain's ranch in Surrey, B.C., on Monday August 6, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Thumbs Up, Up And Away(64 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives the thumbs up from the cockpit of his campaign plane as he arrives in Ottawa,Tuesday May 3, 2011. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
He's A Belieber(65 of84)
Stephen Harper presents Justin Bieber with a Diamond Jubilee Medal on Nov. 23, 2012.Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
I'm With Him(66 of84)
Stephen Harper and Wayne Gretzky, joined by students on an outdoor ice rink in Saskatoon on Feb. 5, 2010. Source: Facebook (credit: Facebook)
Shhh... This Is The Best Part(67 of84)
Stephen Harper, wife Laureen and Suraksha, Grade 10, visit an IMAX theatre in Bangalore, India on Nov. 8, 2012. (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
Umm... This Is My Costume(68 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper poses for a photograph with Halloween trick-or-treaters at his official residence in Ottawa, Wednesday, October 31, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand)
Is It Cold, Or Is It Just Me?(69 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper bundles up in a parka as he tours Frobisher Bay in Iqaluit, Nunavut on Thursday, February 23, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
One Of Harper's Many Hats(70 of84)
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper adjusts his hat prior to the arrival of Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, for the official start of the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Alberta, July 8, 2011. (credit:TODD KOROL/AFP/Getty Images)
D'awww(71 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen play with some furry friends at the official opening of the new Ottawa Humane Society facility on July 6, 2011. Source: Pm.gc.ca (credit:Jason Ransom, Pm.gc.ca)
Omigod, So Cute(72 of84)
Met Batisse X, official mascot of the Royal 22nd Regiment, prior to welcoming French PM Jean-Marc Ayrault to Ottawa.Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
I Can Totally Take You(73 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper receives a cricket lesson from Ankur Biswas, cricket team captain, at the Bishop Cotton Boys School.Source: Facebook (credit:Facebook)
Mush!(74 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper drives a dog sled after meeting mushing teams at the Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife, N.W.T., Monday, March 10, 2008. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
A Very Harper Holiday(75 of84)
Hanging With The Golden Girls(76 of84)
Stephen Harper meets Canada's women's hockey team, gold medal winners at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Source: Facebook (credit:Facebook)
Tough Cookie(77 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, left, make cookies with 10-year-old brain cancer survivor Baxton Wacholtz, right, and his mom Michelle, of Telkwa, B.C., during a photo opportunity at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday August 7, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Does This Mean I'm In The Band?(78 of84)
Canadian musician Jens Lindemann visits Stephen Harper before a concert. "His blue trumpet reminded me of Sgt. Pepper," according to Harper.Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
Stanley's Not Going To Be Happy About This(79 of84)
Met with Constable Dan Allen of the Child at Risk Response Team (and Cagney the dog) while in Calgary.Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
Say, 'Happy Halloween!'(80 of84)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper points out the camera to baby Grayson, dressed up as a giraffe, during his first time trick-or-treating at 24 Sussex.Source: Facebook (credit:Facebook)
Bear Hug(81 of84)
Stephen Harper hugs his daughter Rachel Hugging Rachel as results come in after the 2011 election. Source: Facebook (credit:Facebook)
We Are The Champions(82 of84)
Stephen Harper holds up the Allen Cup, the Canada's senior men hockey championship trophy, after it was handed to him at a campaign event in Brantford Ont., Friday Oct 10, 2008. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Hanson)
I'll Take This One(83 of84)
Stephen Harper and legendary hockey coach Scotty Bowman shows off his Stanley Cup rings in 2012.Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)
Time Out(84 of84)
Stephen Harper plays hockey in a parking lot in 2011 during a campaign stop. Source: Flickr (credit:PM Stephen Harper, Flickr)