Prime Minister’s Office spending to jump more than $1-million

[JBoy]

The cost of running the Prime Minister’s Office will jump by more than $1-million this year, mostly because of communications expenses.

The final number will be published in the government’s official accounting of expenses for 2009-2010, which will be released in the fall. But The Canadian Press has learned it will hit about $9.89-million, compared to last year’s $8.15-million on spending.

The PMO has hired another 20 people in the last year, including more staff to handle regional and ethnic media, as well as direct government communication, such as the ad blitz on the economic action plan.

Control over whole-of-government messaging has also come to reside within the PMO, keeping staffers busy approving requests for information and interviews with every single government department.

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Micromanaging is hard work!

[tuvor]

1. So much for small government. n/t