Report card

Clyde Jackman's department is commissioning another report:

ArtExpert.ca, an independent consulting firm, has been awarded a contract to undertake a strategic and operational review of provincial Arts and Culture Centres in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, said the review is intended to provide recommendations to the Provincial Government on the general operations of the province’s six regional Arts and Culture Centres, and how they can be more accessible and relevant to the communities they serve.

Perhaps this report will be released to the public more quickly than the Dunbar Studios-Apropos Planning report on the future of the Colonial Building.

That report, entitled "Making These Walls Talk", was obtained by the Telegram under the Access to Information Act last fall, and reported in that paper by Barb Sweet on November 22.

It's now January, and the report still hasn't been made public. And the Telegram should never have had to submit an Access request in the first place. After all, in his 2003 election platform, Mr. Accountability, Danny Williams, promised to:

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 is a liar. Y'know, if you go into another election and he makes promises and if he puts it in writing, they’re absolutely meaningless.