"I don't care."
Of all the nefarious things that our Conservative government has done to our Country, possibly the worst is its war on Science. We have witnessed it for years. Recently a
report (pdf in French) studying 12 countries by the French National trade Union of Scientific Researchers (SNCS-FSU) has zeroed in on Canada for the way it has treated its scientists. i have included a link and review of the book
The War on Science and the top-rated CBC documentary
The Silence of the Labs (43 min). Surprisingly, it was shown on the public tv station. And the CBC was punished for it with massive
budget cuts that forced them to lay off 1,500 employees.
This morning on my Facebook page there was the headline from DeSmog.ca on Canada's war on science and I thought you might want to know a little more about what is happening to that once free and open country to the North of you.
Canada's War on Science Brings Us International Shame
Canada's so-called "War on Science" has made international headlines, especially after deep funding cuts led to the closure of some of Canada's most important research centres. Thousands of federal scientists from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as Environment Canada have lost their jobs as a result of the cuts.
Since 2006 the Harper government has introduced strict communications procedures that prevent scientists from speaking freely about -- and at times even publishing -- their research. Federal scientists are required to gain upper-level bureaucratic approval before they speak with journalists about their work, leading the international scientific community to call for the "unmuzzling" of Canada's scientists.
"The findings should be very concerning to the public," he said, adding a full 50 per cent of scientists said they were aware of cases of political interference in the communication of scientific research.
The PIPSC survey came on the heels of a leaked memo from Greg Rickford, minister of state for science and technology, that referred to a group of Canadian scientists as "radical ideologues."
It's a horror story. Find out more about it here.
The Villain
Mr. Harper has shown some "disturbing narcissism" in the establishment of The Harper Gallery in Parliament. He has filled it with pictures of himself in different poses.
Elizabeth May, MP Green Party of Canada
"When you walk in the door, all you see are pictures of Stephen Harper," said Ms. May
"I'd say between every window, in every available space of the wall, at eye level, every available space has a photo of Stephen Harper."
"You've got photos of Stephen Harper, but not of previous prime ministers," she added. "Photos of Stephen Harper in different costumes, in different settings, dressed as a fireman, in Hudson Bay looking for polar bears, meeting the Dalai Lama, even the portrait of the Queen had to have Stephen Harper, but in a candid, behind her."
The Book
The War on Science: Muzzled Scientists and Wilful Blindness in Stephen Harper's Canada by Chris Turner
Canada is being remade before our eyes, and Chris Turner shows us how. With reason and research, he eloquently demonstrates how the Harper government is systematically dismantling the mechanisms of science and reason that have enabled this country to not only flourish but to earn the admiration of the world. In their place a New Canada is emerging, one in which unwelcome evidence is suppressed, dissenters are ostracized and ideology trumps rational thought. It's a Canada that I'll wager neither we nor our allies would have ever imagined possible, and the only thing more alarming than the speed with which it's happening is the passivity with which it's being allowed. The War on Science is an urgent book that anyone who cares about Canada - the idea, the nation, the democracy - should read. —John Vaillant, (2013-07-26)
The Horror Movie
Stay tuned for the fall 2015 Federal Election. Three parties, Harper's Conservatives, New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Liberals will fight it out. Some pundits say that whoever is strong on foreign policy will be the winner.
I think Climate will be very important. We don't even know what's ahead of us in the coming year regarding our climate and environment. It will take Canada years to put back together the environmental regulations that the Harper government has dismantled during his horrible war on Science.
UPDATED, 6:50 PDT
Request to interview federal scientist sparks 110 pages of government emails
Why the fuss?
Calvin Sandborn, a lawyer with the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria, thinks he may have some idea.
Politically sensitive issues are red-flagged for tight political control, said Sandborn, who helped author a comprehensive report by the law centre.
“In particular, if they’re talking about issues that are sensitive to the oil and gas industry — specific issues like climate change or oilsands or grizzly bears.”
[...]
These days, Canadian scientists are sent to international conferences with “government minders,” Sandborn said.
“It’s crazy. We have fisheries scientists saying that they’re restricted from issuing red tide warnings without getting political approval from Ottawa,” he said.
“So, you have a government scientist put in a quandary: do we issue a red tide warning — because red tides can kill people — do I do that right now or do I send it off to Ottawa and follow all the protocols and just hope that nobody dies while we’re waiting for political approval from a minister’s office?”