But a recent news story from Ottawa says that may not be the case. And instead is far from it.
In November of 2007 the government of Canada instituted a new media relations policy regarding Environment Canada. That document was leaked this week by an Environment Canada employee. The new policy in the document requires all Environment Canada scientists to refer all media questions to the Media Relations Headquarters where they can be better directed. Or really, where they can decide how best to handle the question with an pre-approved line.
A report by Andrew Cuddy of Climate Action Network Canada, a coalition of environmental groups, says the policy limits, if not fully eliminates, media coverage of climate change.
Federal climate scientists now have to seek permission from the government before even agreeing to interviews with journalists. And often, journalists must submit their questions as written responses to be approved by supervisors before an interview can be granted.
This has all left federal climate change scientists feeling what they describe as "muzzled." Or really, censored.
Cuddy's report further says that some scientists began speaking out after the policy's inception because they felt it was blocking communication and ultimately was designed to stop them from talking to the media altogether.
Although Harper has acknowledged climate change in recent years he wasn't in support of researching it before he came to office and chances are he's not that interested in it now either.
Ultimately this policy seems like the Harper government's way of undermining climate change research while at the same time wielding a vague form of censorship over the Canadian population.
Because whether you agree or disagree with climate change, researching it should not be an arguable matter. As even polar bears are experiencing the rise of the global temperature firsthand and I'm sure they would appreciate someone looking into it.
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