This was originally written late on Wednesday night, but for some reason Microsoft decided to eat it.
Natural Resources Minister Ed Byrne spoke yesterday to the Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association's supplier development forum. That brings a bunch of local suppliers together with oil industry buyers.
Ed's speech - which I didn't hear - included references to having a committee examine the prospects of expanding downstream production capacity in the province.
Now that's big stuff and it did sort of make the news. It wasn't near the top of the line-up in any cast. Over on VOCM, for example, it is near the start of the "other stories" pile under the super-stimulating headline: "Government seeking input from oil and gas sector".
On most casts, it was actually kind of down there somewhere long after the crab protestors and Joan Burke - acting acting health minister.
CBC did cover the story but the website still has some anti- Paul Watson tirade the Premier went on a couple of days ago.
Being the smart little fellow I am, I wandered over to the government news release page for yesterday. There's the media advisory about the speech - sent out the morning of the event. [Aside: Given that the gig was booked weeks in advance and Ed's staff hardly has a jammed up schedule, there isn't much excuse for the late advisory.]
Then there's some stuff from other ministers - oddly no Joan Burke release. [Sing to a well-known Julie Andrews tune: The Xing is alive with the sound of bulls****]
Anyway, back to the government website.
Oh, says me, there's something from Nat Res. Turns out they want some help finding the cause of mysterious fires.
Crimes Stoppers kinda stuff.
Oh. Loook.
Geez, they even included the Crime Stoppers number.
Oh.
aaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddd........................ that's it.
No speech.
No release.
Big policy step.
Plank from Blue Book set in motion.
And it merits the attention of a beer fart on George Street.
I must practice a different kind of public relations than government people.
Anyways, after you've followed the links, ponder this.
Given all the things I have posted about Ed Byrne, but especially this one, I think it is time Ed had a Dr. Phil moment:
"Is this working for you, Ed?"