Transparency and Accountability

Danny Williams then, in the PC Party platform from 2003:

The Transparency and Accountability Act will greatly enhance openness and accountability in government, but a comprehensive and effective Freedom of Information Act is the best safeguard against the tendency of governments to descend into official secrecy and elitism.

A Progressive Conservative government will:

Release to the public every government-commissioned report within 30 days of receiving it, indicate the action government will take on a report's recommendations within 60 days, and ensure prompt public access to all government reports in hard copy and on the Internet.

Danny Williams now, in today's Western Star:

The key recommendation of a report government has yet to publicly release became clear Thursday as Finance Minister Tom Marshall announced Sir Wilfred Grenfell College is going to get full university status.

The unexpected announcement came during Marshall's provincial budget speech in the House of Assembly.

"Sir Wilfred Grenfell College is a tremendous asset to the province's western region and has the potential to make an even greater contribution to the economic and social growth of the province," said Marshall. "Based on the information and recommendation of a recent feasibility study into the governance structure of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, our government will work with the Memorial University board of regents to implement the recommendations of the study, including granting the college full university status and a separate executive, senate and budget while maintaining a common board of regents."

The study was conducted last year and a draft copy was submitted to Education Minister Joan Burke last June. A final report was forwarded in September, but government had kept its findings under wraps until now.