Canadian Government Muzzling Scientists

Meshach writes "Scientists in Canada researching why salmon stocks are depleting face being muzzled by the Canadian Conservative government. Quoting: 'Science told Miller to "please feel free to speak with journalists." It advised reporters to contact Diane Lake, a media officer with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Vancouver, "to set up interviews with Dr. Miller." The documents show major media outlets were soon lining up to speak with Miller, but the Privy Council Office said no to the interviews. The Privy Council Office also nixed a Fisheries Department news release about Miller's study, saying the release "was not very good, focused on salmon dying and not on the new science aspect," according to documents obtained by Postmedia News under the Access to Information Act. Miller is still not allowed to speak publicly about her discovery, and the Privy Council Office and Fisheries Department defend the way she has been silenced.'"

Re:Conartist Party Lies

[Anonymous Coward]

I wouldn't go so far as to godwin it, but it IS amazing what Harper will do given a majority government for the first time.

It's times like this I wish Canada had a strict no-third-term rule like the US has. Harper would have been gone long ago and he'd have little choice but to stop meddling with the system to keep his seat.

Only 4 more years

[future assassin]

of Harperizim. By then 1/3 of us will be in private jails for breaking copyright laws or smoking a joint.

Re:Notice: "Department of Fisheries ..."

[MacTO]

Thus the comparison to the tobacco companies. That being said, I think that a man like Harper believe that the governent departments are there to inform policy decisions rather than the public. Whether he listens to what they say is an open question, but they must not question his authority ... erm, leadership. That's likely also why he screwed around with the census.

Re:Imagine

[myurr]

You needn't be so specific in targeting the conservatives - it's true of all politicians from all sides across the whole world. If a report or scientific study doesn't give the result they want, then they reframe the question and try to bury or hide the original. The EU even do it with national referendums (e.g. the Irish vote to ratify the Lisbon treaty that had to be held a second time as they didn't get the result they wanted).

Re:another 1/3 for possessing hacker tools

[CyberSaint]

Optimist.

Harper doesn't give a shit about public opinion. He's skilled at selling a story and manipulating the shit out of the media. He hasn't actually achieved a damn thing of significance since his first term as Prime Minister. He's managed to convince half the country sitting on his hands and pushing an agenda that bears no resemblance to his campaign platforms is progress. "Staying the Course" my maple dipped left testicle. He's even managed to blame his opposition for him repeatedly sabotaging his own legislation.

I don't have any doubt, if he could find a way to make a buck for him or his corporate handlers doing it, he'd jail every citizen in the country.

~Disgruntled Albertan

There is a HUGE difference

[aepervius]

Tobacco= private, can do whatever they want with their money, even suppress the own research they asked for, even if unethical. Departement of Fisheries = PUBLIC, they are beholden to the public interest, and have no right to suppress research done with the PUBLIC money. And this is the big difference.

Re:Notice: "Department of Fisheries ..."

[should_be_linear]

I don't think you (or Canadian government) understands how science works.

Re:Let the fishermen be the judge

[Nursie]

"I'm sorry to say this but you're ignorant."

I'm ignorant because I think forcibly slowing down fishing now is better than being forced to slow down later because the tasty species are dead?

Seriously?

Re:Imagine

[sayfawa]

I hear that a lot, and maybe it's true in other countries. But in Canada, yes, you do need to be specific in targeting the Conservatives.

This Conservative government is an anti-fact government. They don't like evidence getting in the way of their agenda. From this, to the abolishment of the long-form census, to firing scientists who speak out, to going ahead with their "tough-on-crime, lock-'em-all-up" strategy in the face of evidence around the world that it doesn't work. The other parties are not like this. True, the other parties sometimes have other faults, but this abhorrence of data, facts and objectivity in general is a Conservative thing.

Re:Imagine

[Midnight Thunder]

At the same time what are statistics worth if they are voluntary? I thought the whole point of the census was to have decent statistics to help confirm choices made and help future decisions?

Re:Imagine

[Toze]

I know this will be shocking, but guess what Conservative supporters say about the Liberal party and its policies and supporters? Pull your head out of your bias, dude. "Blah blah oh the problems are really THIS party's fault" means that you're on the other team. Problems in democracies are systemic, not partisan.