The Prime Minister's Office spent $24,000 to have a high-powered communications strategist advise the prime minister on U.S. media opportunities during April's Summit of the Americas.
Documents posted on the U.S. Department of Justice website show that the PMO paid Michael McCurry to "develop a media plan" for the summit held in Trinidad and Tobago, five months ago.
The PMO wanted McCurry to provide "communications advice around issues pertaining to the 2009 Summit of the Americas as they relate to the United States in order to effectively articulate the position of the Government of Canada," the documents state.
McCurry's contract also called for him to help the prime minister set up relevant interviews with U.S. print media and TV networks.
He was assisted by Scott Warner, a Virginia-based consultant who helped in outreach "to U.S. news media in furtherance of communications objectives of the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada."
- Read the contract
During the Summit of the Americas, Harper gave interviews to the New York Times and Fox News, among other U.S. media outlets.
McCurry is a principal at Public Strategies Washington, Inc. -- a government relations and lobbying firm that counts corporations, universities, and trade associations among its clients. Warner is an associate of the same organization.
Documents on the U.S. Department of Justice website indicate that Warner did not have a contract with the PMO, and instead drew a salary that was paid by PSW. Warner verified to CTV.ca that he did not have a contract with the PMO.
McCurry was the press secretary for former U.S. president Bill Clinton from 1995-1998.
Warner has provided crisis management services to a number of high-profile clients including former NBA player Jayson Williams and the family of murdered Washington intern Chandra Levy, according to his website.
Prior to his appearance at the Summit of the Americas, the Prime Minister's Office paid another former presidential spokesperson for similar duties at the G20 summit in London.
Ari Fleischer, the one-time press secretary for George W. Bush, was paid $24,500 to provide "U.S. media advice" and "assistance in arranging United States media opportunities that advance Canada's International Economic Objectives."
Under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, both McCurry and Fleischer are required to disclose the details of their arrangements with foreign governments, which includes the contracts with the PMO.
With files from The Canadian Press
