Media access and government accountability came up for debate in the House of Assembly today, sparked by the Environment Minister’s refusal to meet with media following Question Period yesterday.

Opposition Leader John Hogan asked the Premier why the minister would not meet with reporters after she slammed a recent media report regarding a draft greenhouse gas emissions report for “twisting” the information contained therein.

“Yesterday the minister of environment again refused to speak to the media” Hogan stated. “The media asked ‘which is worse? A minister refusing to speak to the media or the premier insisting that his ministers don’t speak to the media.’ Let me be clear, both are unacceptable. But I ask the premier, who also by the way refused to scrum with the media yesterday after Question Period, which is it? Are ministers refusing to speak? Or are you directing them to be silent?”

The Premier responded, “Let’s set the record straight. I spoke to the media yesterday, I held a scrum out in the lobby of Confederation Building here yesterday. I spoke to the media. And we will speak, and my ministers will speak any time in the media when we have something to tell them…” The statement was followed by expressions of dismay from the opposition side of the House followed by audible ‘wows’.