Happy Right to Know Week

From the 2003 Danny Williams Party Buelsheet:

“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”

As Rob Antle reported in the March 4th edition of the Telegram:

The Williams administration says its promised policy of making all government-commissioned reports public within 30 days of their completion remains in effect, despite some recent exceptions.

Officials in the premier's office said the government is now reviewing its files to see what other unreleased reports may be gathering dust.

Last night on the Ministry of Truth, Jerome! Kennedy! said that Sooper Sekrit report on HM Pen will be released in 30 days, “according to policy”.

Today in the Telegram, it’s a different story. Peter Walsh reports:

Kennedy said he will make the report public after announcing more changes arising from it, which could take months.

And over at the Ministry of Truth:

Justice Minister Considers Further Changes at HMP - Oct 2, 2008

It may not be busting rocks, but inmates at Her Majesty's Penitentiary may be forced to pick up mop and bucket as part of the daily grind. Justice Minister Jerome Kennedy is reviewing a wide sweeping report which contains some 77 recommendations on how to improve prison life at HMP. The minister began yesterday by changing at the top, dismissing John Scoville as superintendent and promoting Graham Rogerson to acting superintendent. On VOCM Open Line this morning, Kennedy suggested inmates in St.John's may soon be responsible for keeping it clean. Kennedy is also concerned about a situation where correctional officers who are suspended forego their pay while other uniformed personnel, such as police officers, continue to be paid while on suspension. Kennedy is going to bring together many organizations with an interest in prison conditions next week to talk about the report. The minister says that document, entitled "Decades of Darkness: Moving Toward the Light" will be made public within 90 days.

But... but... but… Elizabeth Matthews — 729-3960, elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca — said, in March, that the 30-day policy is still in effect.

Surely, surely, surely to goodness, Elizabeth Matthews — 729-3960, elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca — can provide a copy of that policy.

And maybe the Telegram, or some other media outlet, could publish that policy for Jerome!’s benefit.

In a totally unrelated development, other than also having Jerome! Kennedy!’s name attached to it, this is Right to Know Week.