The global war on science - Canada is a leader

You wouldn't think that the great country of free democratic Canada is a place that would restrict the free speech rights of its citizens, and particularly the free speech rights of the employees of the government.  But this is Canada governed by a government headed by Steven Harper, and they DO control the speech of their employees -- even more so than attempted by the administration of George W. Bush.

The government now says that government meteorologists can't talk about climate change.  I wonder how much oil money got put in the Ottawa bank accounts to make that happen.

Canada bans its government meteorologists from talking about climate change

"According to a leaked Environment Canada document, the agency has noticed that 'Media coverage of climate change science, our most high profile issue, has been reduced by over 80 per cent.'

Critics say the government is seeking to 'muzzle' scientists from speaking about climate change.

According to a study by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, many federal scientists feel they are unable to speak openly in their areas of expertise.

'90 per cent [of federal scientists] feel they are not allowed to speak freely to the media about the work they do and that, faced with a departmental decision that could harm public health, safety or the environment, nearly as many (86 per cent) would face censure or retaliation for doing so,' reads the report.

'Federal scientists are facing a climate of fear,' says PIPSC president Gary Corbett, 'a chill brought on by government policies that serve no one’s interests, least of all those of the Canadian public."

Let's just put it this way - Stephen Harper is as close to the embodiment of what Tea Party conservatives in the U.S.A. would want in a leader of the country.

Which means he's bad news for just about everybody else.