The Harper government’s policy of controlling when and what federal scientists communicate to the public is another example of the Conservative’s plan to manipulate and control the information Canadians receive, Liberal MPs said today.
“This is a Prime Minister who claims that ‘he makes the rules,’ and that’s exactly what he’s trying to do with the scientific community,” said Liberal Industry, Science and Technology Critic Marc Garneau. “By taking away scientific independence in this way, he is politicizing science and using scientists as political tools to try and further his own agenda.
“It’s part of an ongoing pattern with this Prime Minister – he is deliberately ignoring evidence in favour of ideology with regards to eliminating the mandatory long form census, building more prisons when the crime rate is dropping and trying to ditch the long-gun registry despite the evidence that it saves lives.”
Documents reveal that Natural Resources Canada scientists were told they need ‘pre-approval’ from Minister Christian Paradis’ office to speak with national and international journalists, and that their ‘media lines’ also need ministerial approval. At least one scientist – Andrew Weaver, a climatologist at the University of Victoria – called it “Orwellian” and equated it to muzzling. (Vancouver Sun, Sept. 12, 2010)
“This is all part of Stephen Harper’s plan to make decisions based on ideology instead of evidence,” said Liberal Natural Resources Critic Denis Coderre. “If Canadians are deliberately left in the dark, the Conservatives have a better chance of making ideological decisions without being questioned by an informed electorate.”
The same thing happened in 2007 when Environment Canada scientists were forbidden from speaking freely about climate change.
“Scientists speculate that this new ‘pre-approval’ policy is just more climate change muzzling,” said Mr. Coderre. “Stephen Harper is known as the climate change denier, so they may not be far off.”
“Whatever Mr. Harper’s reasons, one thing remains certain – the Harper Conservatives are making decisions that ignore sound evidence in favour of ideology and going to great lengths to control the scientific information Canadians receive. This is dishonest and prevents us from getting at the truth,” concluded Mr. Garneau.
