Minister cracked jokes during listeriosis conference call: sources

[CHIMO]

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz unnerved some public servants at the height of the listeriosis crisis by resorting to gallows humour during a conference call about the public health scare that has now killed 17 people.

Sources who took notes during the call said Ritz fretted about the political dangers of the crisis, before quipping: "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts."

When told about a new death in Prince Edward Island, Ritz said: "Please tell me it's Wayne Easter."

Others on the call included communications staff from the prime minister's office, most of Ritz's staff, Health Minister Tony Clement's policy and communications advisers and senior public servants, including deputy health minister Morris Rosenberg.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/09/17/ritz-listeriosis.html

Obviously from this report there will be a lot more stories coming out. They seem to have the air of we make our own rules and we rule.

Look forward to more revelations that they consider to be just talk among the boys in power.

[daleo]

1. The minister responsible for food saftey

Joking about a food borne epidemic. Mocking the sick and dead - amazing. It really does show the present Conservative Party's mentality.

I hope all the people that thought puffin poop was funny are starting to realize where that sort of attitude leads.

[daleo]

2. He jests at scars, that never felt a wound.

Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.

[iverglas]

3. "Please tell me it's Wayne Easter."

C'mon, it's funny. It would have been funny if it were Jack Layton, too, if Jack Layton had been relevant somehow.

The thousand cold cuts was a little lame, but not bad.

We have ALL said these things, if we came equipped with an iota of wit.

We hope we have the sense not to say them to somebody who will quote us in public.


And I say this as someone whose dearly loved (and ill) mother has never got over the death of her lifelong best friend 20 years ago, of listeriosis.

[daleo]

4. A baby died of listeriosis today

Maybe Ritz can find some humor in that.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/09/18/listeriosis-baby.html