Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee put out a press release through normal channels. The press release requested information regarding the Deh Cho Bridge process. It was agreed to by all of the committee members. Mr. Speaker, it was the government’s decision yesterday not to send this out through Messenger, the government’s e-mail service, because of the political nature of that press release.

Mr. Speaker, most press releases are political in nature. I am wondering what would make this press release any more political than any other one we send out. The first question I would have for the Premier is, who made the decision not to send out the committee’s press release yesterday? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 91-16(1): News Release Distribution On GNWT Messenger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Member would probably be happy to say it was I that said not to release it, but I have just been made aware of it by a note being sent over to me. So I am unaware who made that decision. It is something that we would have to look at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 91-16(1): News Release Distribution On GNWT Messenger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe any Minister or northern Premier can thwart the free speech and a privilege that we have here as Members of this House. I would like to ask the Premier if he could find out who made that decision and why it was made. If we are going to be censored and there is going to be a gatekeeper on press releases that committees make, we should know about that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 91-16(1): News Release Distribution On GNWT Messenger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand this did go out yesterday. It may be on the Legislative Assembly website. Is the question it didn’t go out through the Messenger which goes to every employee’s e-mail? Is that the question? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 91-16(1): News Release Distribution On GNWT Messenger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, somebody somewhere made the decision not to send out EDI’s press release on government Messenger e-mail system to all employees in the government. Every other press release that gets issued goes out on Messenger. This one got stopped. Somebody was gate keeping and said this press release was too political in nature and didn’t deserve to go out on Messenger. So, again, I would like to ask the Premier if he would investigate this and find out who this gatekeeper is so that Regular Members know and committees know that we are obviously going to be censored in press releases in the future, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 91-16(1): News Release Distribution On GNWT Messenger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is, within Executive, the whole sending out through the Messenger falls through the Department of Executive. My understanding is when that came across -- and I am just going from the note that was forwarded to me -- the question was asked for more thoughts on this matter. So that discussion I’m not aware has taken place yet. The government, overall, should have a discussion about what appropriate message should be sent. I recall in the past being requested to put some things from other groups on that Messenger service and they’ve been disallowed on a number of areas. So my understanding is that questions were going back and forth; is this the appropriate avenue? It’s not a matter of has it gone or not gone; one day, is that a time to permit some discussion about this? That’s my understanding where it went. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 91-16(1): News Release Distribution On GNWT Messenger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m having trouble understanding what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate and who makes the decision not to send a committee of this Legislative Assembly’s press release out on our government service. Who ultimately makes that decision? Is it the deputy minister? Who makes the decision and who is going to censor, who is there that’s going to censor our press releases? Are they being censored? Judging by yesterday’s events, there was some censorship there and I take great offence to that censorship, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 91-16(1): News Release Distribution On GNWT Messenger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let’s be clear here. The message has gone out, the public’s aware of it. So what censorship happened? The question was asked when this was sent, is this the appropriate avenue to be using this Messenger service that’s available to just GNWT employees? It’s not available to anybody else out there unless you’re a Government of the Northwest Territories employee and you can tap into this. We do have a policy in that area and I’d be prepared to share that with Members and see where that goes. Thank you.