"A former Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet minister, who resigned from politics last week citing his health and frustration with media scrutiny, racked up thousands of dollars in monthly cellphone costs.Maybe he was getting oral briefings.
Former health minister Paul Oram's BlackBerry bills totalled (sic) nearly $30,000 between April 2008 and April of this year."
Maybe he was "on hold" with Randy or Bill. Or doing "constituency" work.
Whatever the case, and as per usual, the former minister was full of excuses:
"Oram said during those 12 months he was the minister in charge of the business department, and that involved a lot of international travel, to countries like Germany and India."God bless him. And his "involvement" in international travel. Travel that was, no doubt, very, very important.
So important, in fact, that no such trips were ever even worthy of a news release, or a media advisory.
For the record, here is a complete list of media releases and advisories for the period referred to by the always-dialed-in and apparently well-traveled former Minister, Paul Oram:
April 29
Budget 2008 Investments in Natural Resources, Business and Tourism Sectors Will Strengthen Province for Future Generations
May 8
Progress to Enhance the Regulatory Environment and Improve Client Service Continues
May 28
Minister Promoting Newfoundland and Labrador to Business Leaders and Atlantic Canadian Expats in Toronto
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Junior Team Canada Global Leaders Centre
May 29
Media Advisory: Minister to Provide Opening Remarks at Manufactured Right Here Exhibition
June 3
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Labrador West Chamber of Commerce
June 12
Province Expresses Disappointment Over Latest Marine Atlantic Cost Increase
June 18
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Memorial University Calgary Affinity Dinner
August 29
Newfoundland and Labrador Joins BizPaL
September 8
Media Advisory: Minister to Announce Expansion of Video Game Developer to Newfoundland and Labrador
September 9
Successful Video Game Developer Expands to Province
September 24
Media Advisory: Premier and Ministers to Announce Expansion of Footwear Manufacturer in Harbour Grace
September 25
World-Leading Footwear Manufacturer Expands Harbour Grace Facility
September 26
ACE Memorial to Represent Canada in Singapore
October 2
Red Tape Reduction Relieving the Burden on Province’s Businesses
October 3
SIFE Memorial Wins International Competition
October 8
Media Advisory: Minister to Announce Funding for PanGeo Subsea
October 9
Local Company Bringing Cutting Edge Acoustic Technology to Global Markets
October 20
Small Business Week Celebrates Role of Entrepreneurs
November 4
Media Advisory: Minister of Business to Address Memorial University Affinity Dinner in Toronto
November 5
Media Advisory: Minister of Business to Announce Funding for Dynamic Air Shelters
November 6
Burin Peninsula Firm Growing Capacity and Jobs with Assistance from Oil and Gas Export Fund
November 12
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Mount Pearl Chamber of Commerce
November 14
Media Advisory: Minister to Address College Awards Banquet
November 18
Media Advisory: Minister to Announce Funding for Progress Software
November 19
Progress Software to Expand R&D Presence in Province
November 25
Ministerial Statement - SIFE Memorial World Cup Winners
December 9
College of the North Atlantic’s Business Case Competition
January 14
Media Advisory: Minister to Announce Funding for A.H.M. Fabricators
January 15
West Coast Metal Work Company Expands to Open Up New Business Opportunities
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Chambers of Commerce
January 22
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Exploits Regional Chamber of Commerce
January 28
Municipalities Benefit from Less Red Tape
February 13
Report on Air Transportation Released
February 27
Government Congratulates Provincial Aerospace on Acquiring Major International Contract
March 26
Economic Stimulus Investments in Budget 2009 Top $900 Million
April 2
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Faculty of Business Partners Event
Media Advisory: Minister to Address Clarenville Rotary
April 7
New Program to Support Development of Aerospace and Defence
Not one of the above-listed media releases makes a single reference to any of the overseas travel that the Minister hangs his hat on in defense of his massive Blackberry bills.
In other words, the only way anyone in Newfoundland and Labrador would even know about the very important international business trips the business minister was busy conducting business on is by pouring over his phone records.
I guess the business minister's business isn't your business.
'Til now.
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