Gerry Byrne isn’t one to duck the spotlight. At least, any good-news spotlight.
His office will issue a news release to announce he’s opening an aquaculture expo, to announce that he’s taking part in “a National Tree Day event,” to announce that he’s speaking at a west coast hospital job fair, that he’s addressing “a reception in support of the province’s lobster fishery.” You get the picture.
But when it comes to answering questions about the province’s role in aquaculture regulation and the death of 2.6 million salmon, well …
Here’s a snippet from an Oct. 22 CBC News story: “Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne, through media relations manager Linda Skinner, has consistently refused CBC's requests for an interview, starting Oct 11.” He’s been travelling, apparently, and also unavailable, even in these times of constant cellphone contact.
It’s far from an isolated situation.
It’s unfortunate, once again, that while we can communicate with astronauts in space, cabinet ministers’ cellphones stop working the moment they leave the capital city.
Last week, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Chief Joe Boland gave advance notice of a press conference to discuss his involvement in signing a letter connected to the resignation of Jenny Wright of the St. John’s Status of Women Council.
On Friday, Oct. 18, a day after Boland’s news conference date was set, The Telegram’s David Maher started trying to set up an interview with provincial Justice and Public Safety Minister Andrew Parsons about the issue.
Neither Parsons nor the minister responsible for the Status of Women, Carol Haley, would agree to do interviews on the issue, choosing instead to have their departments send out written statements, with no opportunity for reporters to directly ask followup questions. Parsons’ staff wrote to Maher saying, “The Minister is unavailable for an interview this week because he is travelling.” (It’s unfortunate, once again, that while we can communicate with astronauts in space, cabinet ministers’ cellphones stop working the moment they leave the capital city. Or maybe Parsons was tuckered out from bringing “greetings at the opening of the 27th Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement Conference” on Oct. 16th, and couldn’t handle an interview just now.)
Minister @Andrew_Parsons1 discusses the use of eagle feathers in Provincial Courts in NL on @YourMorning with @BenMulroney. Watch it here: 📺 https://t.co/2kkaS2anLo pic.twitter.com/Kymxj11fMW
— Justice and Public Safety NL (@JPS_GovNL) October 24, 2019
But it goes further than just these ministers and their departments. On Oct. 15, we asked for an interview with provincial mental health officials about the introduction of a character on “Sesame Street” who is in a foster home because of addictions issues at home. The response? No interviews, but “Here is a statement on behalf of the Department of Health and Community Services…”
At Nalcor Energy and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, the prepped, pre-torqued written answer to questions is almost universal.
Here’s a message for the happy folk at Confederation Building and their colleagues beyond: it may be easier to issue a tailored written statement than to actually answer questions. But it sure looks like you’re either unprepared or unable to defend your position publicly — or you simply don’t feel anyone is owed a full explanation.
It’s hard to decide which of those two options is worse.
