Apology and retraction

On February 29th, Telegram columnist Peter Jackson published a piece entitled "The percolated jumping frog of Dunderdale county".

In response, this corner published a posting entitled "Name game".

Since April 24th, the Dunderdale Government has issued at least 21 press releases containing the phrase "Dunderdale Government", almost half of which start with the phrase "The Dunderdale Government...".

All nineteen such press releases issued since July 27th have been put out by the Hon. Kevin O'Brien, Minister of Whatever Kevin O'Brien is Minister Of.

I hereby retract said posting of February 29th (though it will be retained for posterity) and apologize whole-heartedly and without reservation to Mr. Jackson.

L'état, c'est elle

On September 4th, an official Government of Newfoundland and Labrador twitter account began its tweeting, billing itself as "News and information from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador."


As of October 3rd, a quarter of that account's tweets consist of breathless live-tweet coverage of this speech-like thing.

So, if you were wondering whether the descent into Dannywilliamsian personality-cult politics was complete?

It is.

Seven of nine

Since the Government Formerly Known As Provincial revived the Cult of Personality as a standard communications tool in July, nine releases have issued forth containing that immortal phrase, "Dunderdale Government".

Of those nine, seven have come from the Department of Municipal Affairs. Which is kinda strange. During the entire WilliamsGovernment era, a grand total of 16, out of nearly 600 "Williams Government" releases, originated at Municipal Affairs.

Odd.

Sorted another way, however... the DComms who were by far and away most likely to be the lead contact on a "Williams Government" release were David Salter (85 releases), long-time flunky at the Williamsgovernmentiest department of all, Dansportation and Williams; Jacquelyn Howard (58); Elizabeth Matthews (52); and... Tansy Mundon, at 47 WilliamsGovernments to her score.

Jacquelyn Howard is now Director of Strategic Communications, Planning and Priorities.

And Tansy Mundon, whose WilliamsGovernment-fluffing career was mostly at Health, is now chief media fluffer at... Municipal Affairs.

Oh happy joy!

It's baaaaaaacck. The ludicrous, obscene, laughable, taxpayer-subsidized personality cult is back:

Patient Care Improved Through Funding for Clarenville Health Care Services

The Dunderdale Government continues to invest in a strong healthcare system for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with funding of more than $1.9 million announced today for health care in Clarenville. Funding is being provided to the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital for infrastructure upgrades and medical equipment, as well as for site work for the new protective care residence that will be built in the community.

This corner, for one — especially his snarky side — couldn't be happier.