Canadian federal scientists closely monitored by government during polar conference

[Newsjock]

Source: CBC News

Media liaison staffers have been sent to an international polar conference in Montreal to shadow Canadian government scientists during interviews, in what critics are calling the latest example of extreme information control by the Harper Conservatives.

Hundreds of researchers from around the globe arrived in Montreal this week to attend the International Polar Year Conference, but those scientists working for Environment Canada were also accompanied by so-called "media relations contacts" tasked with monitoring and recording interactions with the press.

Ahead of the conference, the Canadian participants were reportedly sent a memo ordering them to have a government liaison present during conversations with reporters.

... Climatologist Andrew Weaver, with the University of Victoria, called the tactics excessive. "The current administration probably has a fear about science," said Weaver, who compared the monitoring of scientists to something out of the Soviet era.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/04/24/scientists-muzzling-canada.html

[Uncle Joe]

1. I was going to post something about how this reminds me of the Soviet Union

before I ever reached the fourth paragraph.

Thanks for the thread, Newsjock.

[Canuckistanian]

2. I heard an interview with Dr. Weaver last night

He was furious about these new rules. Now these scientists need to apply for permission to talk to the press, which can take a day.
Which means they can't even take questions about the papers they've just presented.

And funny how they only seem to apply to climatologists and arctic researchers.

[saras]

3. Well, no, not all of them, just the ones that aren't denialists.

It's neocon bullshit straight up, and like other bullying, nothing but a strict no-tolerance policy seems to work.