Spirited Expenditure
Why do I keep hearing different numbers as to the cost of the “re-elect Today’s NDP campaign”? I have heard $4 million in the Sun today (Kathleen Martens) and $2 million reported in earlier articles from the MSM. Anyone care to let us know the actual final amount?
If you want a good FIPPA, why don’t you request the results of focus testing done before the launch. I am willing to bet it wasn’t very good.
The question that needs to be examined closer is the timing of the "campaign". Three years into a mandate on the eve of a possible fall election call. Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen is correct to criticize this grossly political expenditure, but may come off as looking negative because branding is a “feel good” exercise. Gee, I wonder if Doer was thinking the same thing when they came up with this waste of money.
The NDP are famous for having the conclusion of an experiment before they start. Manitobans were not consulted. I have been told, by people who were on the committee, that they were shown the final product without having any say in it's development.
The beauty here is that the NDP used an American firm to do the job. Pretty ironic coming from Doer who used to lambaste the tories about the “Americanization of healthcare” during the “frozen food” debates a few years back. Does that make this branding the Americanization of our image?
On a second issue, Manitobans will get a new two piece driver’s license, wow what an innovation! Glad we spent millions on spirited energy to share the distinction with Saskatchewan as two governments who cannot even produce an ID card. What’s next, one bill for hydro and gas? Oh wait, it took them almost 6 years to do that. It’s that type of eight-track player mindset that has led this province to it’s current state of disrepair. It will take spirit and energy to repair it, unfortunately we got Spirited Energy. Can you feel it?
If you want a good FIPPA, why don’t you request the results of focus testing done before the launch. I am willing to bet it wasn’t very good.
The question that needs to be examined closer is the timing of the "campaign". Three years into a mandate on the eve of a possible fall election call. Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen is correct to criticize this grossly political expenditure, but may come off as looking negative because branding is a “feel good” exercise. Gee, I wonder if Doer was thinking the same thing when they came up with this waste of money.
The NDP are famous for having the conclusion of an experiment before they start. Manitobans were not consulted. I have been told, by people who were on the committee, that they were shown the final product without having any say in it's development.
The beauty here is that the NDP used an American firm to do the job. Pretty ironic coming from Doer who used to lambaste the tories about the “Americanization of healthcare” during the “frozen food” debates a few years back. Does that make this branding the Americanization of our image?
On a second issue, Manitobans will get a new two piece driver’s license, wow what an innovation! Glad we spent millions on spirited energy to share the distinction with Saskatchewan as two governments who cannot even produce an ID card. What’s next, one bill for hydro and gas? Oh wait, it took them almost 6 years to do that. It’s that type of eight-track player mindset that has led this province to it’s current state of disrepair. It will take spirit and energy to repair it, unfortunately we got Spirited Energy. Can you feel it?
posted by Andy Fletcher | 11:39 PM
9 Comments:
It doesn't take a rocket surgeon ( as Don Cherry used to say ) to see that advertising for Spirited Energy is several million. Funny thing is, they have spent all this in Manitoba, why here and not in other places ? Don't we want to attract tourism? I travel outside the province on almost a weekly basis and have not seen a peep about spirited energy outside the Province. Yet, in Manitoba you can't avoid it. I added up the cost of all the billboards, transit bus advertising, the trailers in each movie in the province, the TV and radio ads, the cost of the project and the website and also the workers going to all the fairs and I can't see it done for less than $10 million. And that is just in Manitoba. I like the slogan, but the way they are promoting it is obvious a prelude to the election. Now if they spent the $10 million outside the province in North dakota, during the summer to get tourists up here, that is one thing. But the cheerleading is getting silly. Now I here radio commercials that you can buy spirited energy merchandise. A new NDP fundraising method ? Betcha the new shirts are made by mondetta.
P.I.T.T. - "Aye, there's the rub" - the Spirited Energy campaign is directed at Manitobans. It seems that the people that are ALREADY committed to Manitoba require daily Stuart Smalley-esque affirmations. If you are planning on leaving because economic opportunity leads elsewhere then I doubt some useless branding initiative gives one pause to reconsider. If it does, that person is best off somewhere else anyways.
I also wonder if these "costs" include such items as stationery replacement, etc. - all the little things that don't make it to line items but add to the overall tally nonetheless. Since the NDP is so exuberant in cramming this idea down our throats, it wouldn't suprise me if all the "old" provincial letterhead has been thrown out to make way for the "new". If anyone can corroborate my suspicions, please drop me a line. I'll be watching my future correspondence from provincial agencies with much interest...
Dunno where you got the idea Kathleen Martens was claiming a $4M price tag. Her story in the Sun (which you also happened to link to) clearly says in the last sentence:
"To date, $1.6 million in public funds and approximately $500,000 in private sector contributions have gone into the project during the past two years."
There's no mention of $4M anywhere in the article.
The worst of it is that Ms. Martens has a reputation in the media and business world of being extremely factual and accurate, and given to extensive cross checking of her facts before they appear in print.
You owe her an apology...
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Manitoba/2006/08/04/1718347-sun.html
My mistake. She wrote two articles. I agree she is accurate. Check the link.
You owe me an apology.
Doesn't it strike you more than a little odd that she would cite a total of $2.1M in one story and in a related companion piece the same day mention a figure of $4M?
Don't get me wrong, the point you raised is valid and worth taking up with Ms. Martens, but the way it came across as you framed it was that there was some deliberate arcane intent or purpose by her or the Sun.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Manitoba/2006/08/04/1718346-sun.html
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Manitoba/2006/08/04/1718347-sun.html
You don't suppose that the discrepancy in the two stories could be accounted for as nothing more than a simple typo working on deadline?
Of course it is also possible that the person quoted in the story, NDP Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson may have had a slip of the tongue, and let the NDP's cat out of the bag while speaking with Ms. Martens by mentioning a figure of $4M in the discussion, which she faithfully quoted in the second story?
Naw can't be that, after all we all know the members of the NDP Evil Doers believe in full and complete disclosure in all matters, and always tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
BTW...if anyone believes that they'll believe pigs fly and the only smell connected with the Olywest deal is pig manure!!
That is why I asked about the discrepency in the first place. Just how much did this poject cost?
With the second phase of the Interbrand rebranding campaign scheduled for this fall, and no, unlike the absurd buffalo logo it isn't going to be a freebie, the real question Andy isn't just how much did this project cost, but what is the total cost going to end up being, and how many bloody times is this bunch (Modha et al) going to be allowed to drain the taxpayer well and send the money south of the border for a campaign to inform Manitobans how swell we are...
I highly doubt that they will spend much outside Manitoba. It's all a set up for the election. How much has been spent promoting to Manitobians ?
Okay, since the Sun has seen fit to issue both a retraction AND an apology on the $4M mentioned in the story -
I offically apologize to you Andy for being wrong, and for only reading the original link you provided instead of re-reading all of Ms. Martens stories that day.
(But I won't apologize for giving her the benefit of the doubt ;->)
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