Canadian Government Muzzling Scientists

IllogicalStudent writes with this excerpt from The Vancouver Sun: "The Harper government has tightened the muzzle on federal scientists, going so far as to control when and what they can say about floods at the end of the last ice age. Natural Resources Canada scientists were told this spring they need 'pre-approval' from Minister Christian Paradis' office to speak with journalists. Their 'media lines' also need ministerial approval, say documents obtained by Postmedia News through access-to-information legislation. The documents say the 'new' rules went into force in March and reveal how they apply not only to contentious issues, including the oilsands, but benign subjects such as floods that occurred 13,000 years ago. They also give a glimpse of how Canadians are being cut off from scientists whose work is financed by taxpayers, critics say, and is often of significant public interest — be it about fish stocks, genetically modified crops or mercury pollution in the Athabasca River."

Comments

Heh...

[DoofusOfDeath]

Why don't I have the feeling there's about to be a flood of, "That's it, I'm moving to the U.S.!"

Re:Heh...

[blair1q]

It's true, but the government scientists with the data aren't allowed to tell you it's true.

Re:That's what I love about Conservatives

[jd]

It's so transparent the policy is now invisible. How much more do you want from them?

Re:The Name

[dkleinsc]

Nobody expects the Canadian Inquisition! Our chief weapon is Tim Horton's, Tim Horton's and hockey. Our two chief weapons are Tim Horton's, hockey, and a whole lot of boreal forest ... I'll come in again.