OTTAWA — A dramatic reduction in Canadian media coverage of climate change science issues is the result of the Harper government introducing new rules in 2007 to control interviews by Environment Canada scientists with journalists, says a newly released federal document.
“Scientists have noticed a major reduction in the number of requests, particularly from high profile media, who often have same-day deadlines,” said the Environment Canada document. “Media coverage of climate change science, our most high-profile issue, has been reduced by over 80%.”
The analysis reviewed the impact of a new federal communications policy at Environment Canada, which required senior federal scientists to seek permission from the government prior to giving interviews.
In many cases, the policy also required them to get approval from supervisors of written responses to the questions submitted by journalists before any interview, said the document, obtained in an investigation into the government’s views and policies on global-warming science that was conducted by Climate Action Network Canada, a coalition of environmental groups.
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Updates:
4:34 pm EDT, March 15th, 2010 — Jim Prentice reaches out amid climate backlash
I guess that’s the method the Cons will use. Rather than a full frontal attack on the credibility of the “warmists” POV, they will control the message from at least their own scientists as a way of curbing their entusiasm for the concept, both as a method to embarras the current government, as well as reduce the potential political IED’s from the culture of entitled to our entitlements bureaucracy.
Message to bureaucrats: if you can’t “do” decent scientific analysis and proper due diligence on advising the Minister, your boss and go the “political science” direction, well you’ll keep your job (maybe) but you will be controlled on what you publish and with more limited funding. Sort it out yourselves and get the message right, that’s what you are paid to do.
At least the state of Texas get’s it right.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6912011.html
We should instruct our own Environment Canada publicly paid employees to do the same – or charge/sue them for a variety of issues.
H/T Cjunk
The message to “government scientists” is that their work belongs to the government of Canada. It does not belong to the scientist. Government “scientists” should not be giving any media interviews anymore than a front line tax auditor should be giving interviews.
And the bottom line, really, is that some of these “scientists” are not so much scientists as they are advocates. When they cross the line, they should be fired.
So lessee here the Media stops asking questions so it is the Government’s fault?!?!?!
OK so it has nothing to do with the CRU/IPCC fake data, glaciergate, Amazongate etc scandals? It has nothing to do with the bloggosphere being all over the false stories like ugly on an ape? It has nothing to do with the cold weather? It has nothing to do with the public’s flagging interest/belief in AGW, It has only to do with the Government’s communications policy.
Got it, loud and clear.
Assuming this story started with ‘government scientists’ trying to protect their elevated status I only hope the minister finds the loudmouth and fires him on the spot. Obviously he is too stupid to be a real ‘scientist’. But then again being a ‘climate scientist’ you are trained to believe in sole causes. Sole causes like anthropogenic CO2 being the sole driver of climatic change.
Another garbage article that uses anonymous quotes and hard spin and fabrication, for the ridiculous Mike DeSouza.
I have written the publisher and editor of the NP numerous times on the propaganda produced by Mr. DeSouza that they see fit to put on the front page.
Meanwhile hard news stories about ClimateFraud are generally relegated to back pages.
Another example of the MSM “managing” the Climategate file.
MSM as apostles & propagandists or embarrassed dupes with little attachment to actual objectivity when reporting the news ( facts not opinions )???
Scientists as true believers who think that lying a little or lying a lot is needed to save the World !
Some ” scientist ” so deeply invested in the ” truth ” of AGW that their reputations and financial grants are at stake not to mention maybe owning stock in carbon trading companies ?
Politicians similarly invested and/or too self interested, deluded or just too scared to say that ” The Emperor has no clothes ” without risking their base who still believe in the AGW thing.
Politicians who cant ” yet ” denounce the fraud because the public hasn’t turned on the idea ” yet ” ! But who can curb the enthusiasm of the cheerleaders (scientists/bureaucrats ) who are supposed to be giving the Government the best impartial advice possible rather than trying to embarrass them !
Excellent work by the government, the spread of lies and misinformation by fake scientists has led to terrible public policy and the waste of billions of dollars that could have been used for useful things like controlling pollution or helping the environment.
Max Bernier has given my opinion – Mr. Prentice can just ask Max. jt- re Texas – I say yes to that – great link with the right idea.
Canadians should be outraged that, at this time of Global economic crisis, our guments are giving billions to dressed up snake oil salesmen who claim that they can control the temperature of Planet Earth. Do they all claim to walk on unfrozen water too – would not surprise me because nothing these ‘scientific’ World Government cultists do surprises me. Just like the Liberanos and Adscam – those liars can look a real person in the eye and lie. Fire. Them. All., Jim Prentice, and make them pay back all the money that they laundered for the fraudulent organizations that they pimp for (hoppin hag again/ Gore Bull heat (warming)/ Climate Change without permission),that threatens the Liberty of all Canadian citizens.
There is no science in this Climate is a changin thingie, just lies and scourcery.