To be briefed

Health Minister Paul Oram must be taking some pretty fantastic multivitamins.

He claims that he can remember all the important details of every aspect of the health and community services portfolio, without the need for written briefing notes.

That's quite a memory.

The department's budget represents one-third of all provincial government spending.

It is organized into five main branches:

The Board Services branch oversees the regional boards and has program responsibility for road and air ambulance and other emergency services. The Policy and Program Services branch provides the overall policy and program development, strategic planning, and applied research and evaluation activities.

The Government and Agency Relations branch works at the federal-provincial-territorial levels, monitoring changes to federal legislation and regulation. The Support Services branch is responsible for overall administrative functions. The Medical Services branch is responsible for disease control, epidemiology, environmental health and pharmaceutical services.

The Minister of Health is responsible for it all.

In addition to all that day-to-day business, there are always some 'little extras' of which the minister must be aware. Take for example, the hormone receptor test mistakes and ensuing scandal and inquiry.

There can be no doubt that there is a whole lot of information available - a lot to take in and a lot to process.

But even if the minister is only getting the highlights, is it the least bit believable that he never has to refer back to something to clarify some details or refresh that elephant-like memory?

It certainly is not. It's much more believable that the minister is choosing to receive only verbal briefings to avoid a paper trail that can be followed through the access to information act. What's the term used in the movies? Plausible deniability.

Imagine the position a senior civil servant may be put in one day if the minister's memory is called into question in an inquiry like the recent one on breast cancer tests. If the employee's memory doesn't match the minister's, who will be believed?

If Paul Oram, or any provincial cabinet minister, wants to be briefed verbally, transcripts should be made of those briefings. Memories may fade and misunderstanding occur, making a record of who, what, where, when and how a necessity.

editor@gulfnews.ca