That week had 22 Minutes

By way of an access to information request, a bit of insight into some of the former Premier's activities during the week of September 20, 2010 — the week that a good swathe of eastern Newfoundland, and much of the appartus of the provincial, federal, and local governments, were dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Igor.

Some editorial notes: where material was redacted by the Access to Information official redactor, the redaction is indicated. The use of the single [REDACTED] bears no necessary relation to the length of the redaction, which may be a single word or a larger block of text.

The headers of quoted emails have, where necessary, been reconstructed assuming the same To- and From-participants (with roles reversed) and the same subject lines as prior or subsequent messages in the chain. Where the original time-stamp was not preserved, the email has been placed chronologically relative to the email it is quoted in, or the email it quotes.

Obvious typos in the originals are indicated. A few key passages have been underlined here for emphasis; underlining is not in the original.

BondPapers noted the curious timing of the taping within days of the event, back on September 29th.

This corner's early inquiries at the school board, asking to confirm, as a matter of fact, the date of the taping, met with a most curious response. "We have been advised by thePremier's office," the respondent helpfully offered in early October, "that any questions regarding his schedule or involvement in the taping of the recent This Hour has 22 Minutes program can be directed to his office."

A few weeks later, Danny Williams accused Marystown Mayor Sam Synard of being a "showboat".

* * *

From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 1:58 PM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: [REDACTED]

Hi there,
Season 18 of 22 is in production. We premiere next Tuesday. Soooooo... we want to do a show looking at Lower Churchill and Hydro and all that and were wondering if my favorite Premiere [sic] is interested. The angle we are thinking is, I talk to him about the Churchill for a sec, and then I interrupt him to point out I think that the reason Quebec isn't playing ball is, they can't understand him. He's speaking in English when he should be making points in French. So, I try and get him to repeat some translations and french sayings to camera. Then to cap it off, I get him to come with me and site in with the Grade 2 French immersion kids at Bishop Field with me. Just one quick scene. Thoughts? It'd be funny but also a good way to explain the issue very plainly and simply to a Canadian Audience who might not be that knowledgeable about it.
Hope all is well.
[REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 4:24 PM
To: [REDACTED]

[REDACTED] Looks like we are good to go. can you offer me some idea of timing?


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 5:21 PM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: [REDACTED]

awwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! anytime next week after monday


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
To: [REDACTED]
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Subject:

How does Tuesday, Sept 21 work for you?


From: [REDACTED]
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Tue Sep 14 15:52:22 2010
Subject: Re:

Splendidly!


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject:

It's a date. How much time you need? [REDACTED]


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 4:37 PM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

Itd be 15 minutes to shoot somewhere with him about lower churchill (maybe at confederation building) and the probablt [sic] 20 minutes to be honest at Bishop field [sic] with the grade 2's. [REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Re:

We will happily do both. Your call. We'll alott [sic] 2 hours. Say 10:30 here at the bldg (or Bishops first – whatever works best for the school).
em


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 12:08 PM
To: Ings, Christine; Nolan, Andrea
Subject: 22 Minutes

We are going with Tuesday morning at 10:30. I would a lot [sic] 2 hours total as we [sic] doing a shoot here at the building then we are off to Bishops school.
em


From: [REDACTED]
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 1:12 PM
Subject: Re:

1030 at school first might be good time for them as they could do it after recess


From: [REDACTED]
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Wed Sep 15 13:37:04 2010
Subject: Re:

[REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Re:

[REDACTED]
em


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 2:16 PM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

[REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Re:

Sounds good. Can you send me a brief outline of the whole thing so I can get him ready? [REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Re:

Don't forget me – a quick run down [sic] on how the morning will go is all I need. Tks!


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 6:04 PM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

Hey
They way the piece will run, it'll be start [sic] with a sit down shot of Danny and I talking about Quebec.
Ill [sic] need him to:
A: quickly in sound clip fashion explain the church, power etc B; what Quebec is doing to mess it up
C: ill [sic] quote him some of his more … Um... Angry Quebec quotes.

Then I explain to him that he shouldn't be aggravating Quebec like that... Because the can't understand him. And that he needs to learn how to take shots at them en francais. I get him to say from french, its terrible so I tell him he needs a tutor at his level. Cut to: he's in the grade 2 french class, answering the teacher with the other kids. Then danny raises hand, made that the kids on the other side of the room have nicer crayons, slap in the face to the people on his side, etc.. I take him out.
Sounds like more than it is, but it won't be that long.


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 12:14 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: RE:

Batten down the hatches. Looks like we will be doing this smack in the middle of 150 mm of rain compliments of Igor.


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 10:11 AM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

Sweet!


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 10:32 AM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

[REDACTED]


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 10:32 AM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

[REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 11:00 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: RE:

Bad news. We have to bail on tomorrow. We've cleared his schedule as we will be going around the province visiting sites. Destruction is widespread already and the storm hasn't even hit full force yet. Some areas expected to get 300 mm of rain! Let me know if you want a rain check [REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Re:

Good call on today. Schools are closed


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Re:

Here's problem #2. Looks like we might be choppering around the province tomorrow. State of emergency being declared in a few places already. Major damage and flooding. The place is a mess. How do you feel about Thursday? [REDACTED] We still don't know for sure, but I figured I'd plant the seed.


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 10:16 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Re:

Anytime after 1230 Friday works. You set it up with school and let me know. As of now won't have email until later tonight.


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 10:48 AM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

seeya at the school at say, one? thanks!


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
To: [REDACTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010
Subject: Re:

[REDACTED] PMO is moving target. Don't know when we will be back tomorrow. I honestly think we're rolling the dice trying to do this tomorrow. All very fluid. They could get out and decide not to come back until late afternoon. And the weekend is out for DW.


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 2:42 PM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

[REDACTED] The crew already headed there. I'll tell them to sit tight and we'll wait it out. If u can, cool, if not no bad


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
To: [REDACTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 10:17 PM
Subject: Re:

So, looks like we'll be back on the ground at 2. Premier is going to need just enough time to get a suit on then we'll meet you. School first?
em


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 11:28 PM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:
Attachments: 166798979.jpg

[ATTACHMENT REDACTED]

yeah, the kids have to go at 3, so that'd be great. [REDACTED]


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010, 10:35 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Cc: Nolan, Andrea

[REDACTED] – I'm copying Andrea back at the office so she can contact you if we get delayed. I'm not sure how Blackberry coverage will be. Right now we're on time


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010, 11:10 AM
To: Matthews, Elizabeth
Subject: Re:

K


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010, 1:16 PM
To: [REDACTED]; Nolan, Andrea
Subject:

Should be back by 2:30. What time does school let out?


From: Nolan, Andrea:
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010
To: [REDACTED]
Subject:

Bishop's Field Elementary gets out at 2:55pm


From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010, 1:27 PM
To: Nolan, Andrea
Subject: Re:

We're here now


From: Matthews, Elizabeth
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010, 2:24 PM
To: Nolan, Andrea; [REDACTED]

We'll go straight to school when we land. He's dressed casual so we'll have to make that work. We're landing in at 230