The current Federal government has decided that federally funded scientists at Environment Canada should not be allowed to speak with reporters directly. In the past reporters could freely contact Environment Canada scientists with science questions. Now all questions must now go through an information officer. The leaked reasons for this change are particularly worrisome. I fail to see how the fact that “interviews sometimes result in surprises to minister and senior management” outweighs the public’s access to the scientists it funds.

Wasn’t this supposed to be the open and accountable government?

Environment Canada ‘muzzles’ scientists’ dealings with media

Or listen to the first few minutes of this week’s Sunday edition for a bit of commentary.

Michael Ignatieff, a Canadian MP and Liberal leadership hopeful, gave a speech at Ottawa University on March 30, 2006 called Canada in the World. I found the text version of the speech surprisingly engaging.

For more background on Ignatieff see the Wikipedia article about him. Both he and his family have quite an interesting history.