He agrees

MS MICHAEL: I think we have here a case of old wine and new wineskins. This was my fear when the Cameron report came out, that people are so used to behaving in a certain way that they are not going to change.

I am asking the minister: Will he be recommending that there be distinct training for all people who have to be involved in public disclosure, with patient disclosure and public communications? They need more training.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, I have to say, I am in full agreement with the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi and the Leader of the Opposition. This is disgraceful. It should never have happened, to do a release on a Friday afternoon under an improper heading.

It is mentioned in the Cameron report, and I was just looking at it, where they were basically saying they were telling the truth but not the whole truth. That is happening again, and it is not satisfactory and it is not good enough, I can tell you right now. So, yes, things are going to happen over there. We are going to go back to them and give them some direction with regard to communication.

As well, Cameron has also indicated that there was a failure of the management system over there. This has now happened again. That is not satisfactory. Fortunately, as a result of the protocols that are put in place by the Department of Health, and us asking the right questions, and continuing to press them and pursuer them further, more information has come out.

This matter was brought, by the minister, to Cabinet on Thursday. Our media instructions at Cabinet were: Let’s get this out, and get it out right away.

On that basis, the minister made the direction to Eastern Health and what did they do? They come out on a Friday afternoon with no support behind it. They issue a press release that has a misleading heading on it, and that is just not good enough.

I agree with both of you.