The other ABC campaign

Minister of Something Kevin O'Brien got into a bit of embarassment yesterday after he explained to a vast radio audience why it was you didn't need to read something because he had already not read it for you.

If only he had learned the reading discipline of The Master, who, in opposition, admonished the Premier of the day:

I would suggest as well to the Premier, that he also read his own legislation.

He boasted about His reading skills:

Mr. Speaker, the Labrador Transportation Initiative Fund was a pledge, a guarantee, a trust, and even an insurance policy for the people of Labrador, which was protected by legislation. The Premier proposes to strip away that guarantee and replace it with a cheap political promise. The wording of that legislation is very clear. I read this legislation myself, Mr. Speaker.

Why, back then, He'd even read a certain "hostile" newpaper:

Mr. Speaker, if I could read the last five paragraphs of the editorial coming from my district in Humber West, The Western Star, just two days ago. "The provisions outlined above are a far cry from Brian Tobin’s promise that "not a spoonful" of ore would leave the Province.

"No doubt Newfoundland and Labrador needs an economic boost..." and nobody denies that. We certainly don’t, Mr. Speaker. "Many people want to see the Voisey’s Bay deposit developed.

"However, it is a depletable resource and there will be only one chance to do it right." That is tomorrow, and that is why I have that sick nauseated feeling in my stomach.

"So far, the government has been giving a positive view and glossing over the negatives. There are many things about this deal that require full disclose and open debate, to determine their acceptability.

"Beware of deals done by governments desperate for good news prior to an election. Been there, done that and we don’t like the souvenirs!" It says it all, Mr. Speaker. That is coming from an editorial in The Western Star.

And when He couldn't read something Himself right away, He'd make sure that the something was well-analyzed before making any assumptions about its content:

Today, Mr. Speaker, the Opposition and myself are placing the Government of Quebec and Hydro Quebec on notice here today that we will subject this deal to the utmost scrutiny. It will be under a microscope. We will hire the best available experts in the world to review this documentation. I have not read it, but I will. I will analyze it and our team will analyze it, and we will not prejudge it.

Indeed, He seemed to view reading as an essential part of ministerial responsibility:

My questions today are for the Minister of Mines and Energy. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Mines and Energy confirm, for this House, that he is familiar with all the terms and details of the proposed deal with Hydro Quebec, that he has seen all the documentation provided to the Board of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and that he supports all the terms of the deal and that documentation in its entirety?

and again:

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Justice - the same question that I asked the Minister of Energy yesterday - please confirm for this House and the people of our Province that he has seen, and he has read, all documentation submitted to the Board of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and that he supports each and every condition contained therein, therefore he supports the deal as presented to the Board of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro in its entirety?

And He offered some very pithy reading-related advice to the then-Premier:

Mr. Speaker, that is not the way I read the definition of sufficient reserves. It means the estimated quantities determined by the proponent in accordance with its methodologies. Inco determines it. Read your agreement, Premier.