The reviews are in

The Star Phoenix editorial board:

That the Conservatives in power have developed a bad case of political myopia that renders them unable to separate their party's interests from those of ordinary Canadians was evident in the dozens of government stimulus cheques adorned with the party logo handed out by Tory MPs and ministers across the land.

But even as Canada's ethics commissioner Mary Dawson begins her investigation into whether the use of these ceremonial cheques backed by public funds "furthers a private interest," a news report suggest that Prime Minister Stephen Harper may be using taxpayer funds to burnish his own political image.
...
Mr. Harper's spokesman Dimitri Soudas, says there's no difference between the videos, which are being made available to news organizations online, and the routine photos distributed by the Prime Minister's Office to media.

The problem, of course, is Mr. Soudas's attempt to portray these videos as just "another form of communication with the media." Responding to criticism that, in no way does this practice provide reporters access to the prime minister, he said:

"The media can't have it both ways. They can't criticize us for not providing enough information and then criticize us for providing too much information."

The sticking point, of course, is whether this indeed is "information" for the purpose of presenting intelligible news to Canadians or regurgitating pre-packaged public relations claptrap from the PMO meant only to serve Mr. Harper's political objectives.