Our scientists being muzzled by the feds Our, feds, muzzled, scientists

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http://www.news1130.com/news/loc ... muzzled-by-the-feds

Our scientists being muzzled by the feds
Any request has to go through PR filter

Mike Lloyd/The Vancouver Sun  Sep 13, 2010 08:14:43 AM

OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS1130) - Canadians are cut off from their federal scientists in what's being called an "Orwellian" muzzling by Ottawa.  Reports on everything from climate change to the last ice age have to be vetted by the Harper government.
New rules went into effect in March and through access-to-information laws Postmedia News found Natural Resources Canada scientists have been told they need pre-approval from the Ministry to speak with journalists.

It's not just politically sensitive subjects like the oil sands.  Topics as mundane as flooding after the last ice age have to go through the Harper government PR filter.

University of Victoria climatologist Andrew Weaver tells the Vancouver Sun it's 'Orwellian' and we have a right to know what federal scientists are discovering and learning using tax dollars.

He adds the crackdown is seriously undermining morale in federal labs.