The Harper government is using Twitter to release information, choosing the terse social messaging site over official channels.
The prime minister’s spokesman used Twitter on Tuesday to post news of Stephen Harper’s coming trip to Washington to meet U.S. President Barack Obama.
The trip was confirmed via a formal news release after it had been announced online.
Spokesman Dimitri Soudas also used Twitter on Tuesday to communicate the government’s concern about a CRTC decision that changes what internet service providers can charge their wholesale customers.
Minutes later, a similar message was posted directly from Harper’s Twitter account.
The PMO’s use of Twitter as a formal communications tool above official channels is raising concern because it shuts out those who don’t use the site.
Also, Harper’s account links followers to the Conservative party website rather than the government of Canada site.
Soudas has also been tweeting updates on the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Egypt. In January, he used the site to confirm a cabinet shuffle.
Tory cabinet ministers such as Tony Clement, Jason Kenney and James Moore have all used Twitter in the past to alert followers to news from their departments.
