Stretching the excuse

The Cons show their continued commitment to open and accountable government by refusing not only to release the contents of Wajid Khan's alleged report, but even to confirm publicly-reported details surrounding Khan's itinerary:

Stephen Harper's office won't disclose the names of people who met with MP Wajid Khan during his tour of the Middle East, much less the report he submitted to the prime minister.

Harper spokesman Dimitri Soudas said Wednesday that Khan met with "government officials, stakeholders, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), members of our own diplomatic corp" during his 19-day tour of the strife-torn region last September.

But he wouldn't provide any more specific information, even though the names of some of Khan's contacts have been reported in the media.

A foreign affairs spokeswoman was similarly non-forthcoming, referring the question to Harper's office.

Now, given that the Cons had settled on a relatively firm excuse ("confidentiality") as to why they wouldn't release the report itself, the new refusal to even mention who Khan met with only gives rise to more questions. Was Khan's trip planned around such a biased set of sources that merely disclosing their names would make it obvious how Khan would then advise Harper? Or was it such an insignificant group as to render the mission a farce?

Not that we can expect answers out of PMS anytime soon. But if Harper really prefers to face those questions than reveal even the most basic details about Khan's trip, then it's all the more clear how unlikely the Cons are to disclose the information that really matters about their government - and how important it is to end their stay at the controls as soon as possible.