Transcript of Kari Simpson calling in to Dr. Perry Kendall’s Weekly Briefing Updating the H1N1 influenza pandemic in BC.
December 8, 2009 @ 12:58pm
Female voice – Thank you for holding, which conference are you attending today?
Simpson – With Dr Kendall, his media advisement on the H1N1
Female – Thank you ma’am. May I ask you for your full name and the spelling, please.
Simpson – Kari Simpson. K-A-R-I S-I-M-P-S-O-N
Female – Thank Ms. Simpson. Now may I also have your company name or your media outlet name?
Simpson – RoadKill Radio.
Female – Is that all in one word?
Simpson – RoadKill is all one word, capital R capital K; new word – radio.
Female – Okay, thank you Be advised you won’t be hearing music until…
(Dr. Kendal begins his briefing. It continues for several minutes then a voice cuts-in.)
Female voice – I apologize for the interruption this is the Bell teleconferencing operator.
Simpson – mhum
Female voice – Ms. Simpson?
Simpson – Yes
Female voice – I do apologize, I have been informed that you are not accredited media and you are not authorized to join in this conference call. I sincerely apologize.
Simpson – I have an invitation from Dr. Kendall to attend this.
Female voice – One moment please (puts Simpson on hold)…
Female voice – What I’ll do is put you on musical hold for just a moment and we’ll verify that information for you. I do sincerely apologize. (puts Simpson on “musical” hold for a long time)
Male voice – Ms. Simpson?
Simpson – Yes?
Male voice – I am very sorry… um for this conference I am very sorry but the presence of RoadKill Radio is not wished for….
Simpson – And who am I speaking with please?
Male voice – My name is Phillip, I am an agent and…
Simpson – An agent with?
Phillip – …with (unintelligible) … teleconferencing services, it’s according to the client’s wishes.
Simpson – And who is your client?
Phillip – Um well according to the Government of BC, they do not want the presence of RoadKill Radio.
Simpson – They don’t want the presence of RoadKill Radio?
Phillip – No, I’m very sorry
Simpson – Who, who transmitted that information to you?
Phillip – I am very sorry but ah…this client… is not on the list of the approved media representative office
Simpson – Um, but who told you we weren’t welcome here?
Phillip – Um um I’m very sorry by the wishes of the client on the line that ah
Simpson – But who gave you that directive?
Phillip – one moment please (puts Simpson on hold)…
Phillip – …It’s according to Sheryl Exon.
Simpson – Miss Sheryl Lexon?
Phillip – Exon…
Simpson – Exon.
Phillip – … which is the conference host.
Simpson – The host of the conference, and what ministry is she with?
Phillip – One moment please… (puts Simpson on hold)
Phillip – …I am very sorry, she is the moderator of calls, government of BC public Affairs Bureau of bcl sorry I am very sorry…
Simpson – And what is your company’s name?
Phillip – Actually Bell Conferencing Centre, we operate the service for the government of BC.
Simpson – All right, so their instructions are, not to allow us to attend a conference we were invited to by Dr. Perry Kendall?
Phillip – I am very sorry, yes.
Simpson – And this is from Sheryl Exon?
Phillip – Sheryl Exon which is actually the host and moderator of the conference.
Simpson – And do you know how she spells her last name?
Phillip – E-X-T-O-N
Simpson – All right, so I guess there is nobody else we can speak to, to get around this hey?
Phillip – Ahh just one moment… (puts Simpson on hold)
Phillip – I am very sorry. We are provided this information. Sorry our instructions are…
Simpson – (giggles) Well thanks for the information then.
Phillip – I am very sorry.
Simpson – Well so are the people of British Columbia. I think this is a sad commentary on their right to information so …
Phillip – sorr…
Simpson – I appreciate you are not responsible for that and we’ll make that those that are responsible are really named, okay?
Philip – We only operate the services.
Simpson – I appreciate that. All right have a great day.