For Immediate Release
February 27, 2013

MP MURRAY CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO STOP MUZZLING SCIENTISTS

MONTREAL – Member of Parliament and Liberal leadership candidate Joyce Murray today called on the government to stop muzzling government scientists and allow them to report their research findings to the Canadian public and the media.

“The ability to communicate and share information of public interest is a vital aspect of a healthy democracy and a sustainable society. It is essential for the development of our dynamic and innovative scientific community," said MP Murray. "Yet federal government scientists are routinely prevented from speaking with media or the public. Worse, many non-profit organisations and volunteer groups are being bullied by the Conservative government, simply for doing their jobs. They are being verbally attacked, having their funding withdrawn, and even being audited and harassed by Revenue Canada—all because their message is not the same as the government’s. Even the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, is criticised and undermined by Conservative ministers and MPs when his conclusions differ from theirs."

Murray’s call echoes that of Democracy Watch and the Environmental Law Clinic of the University of Victoria who this week filed a complaint with federal Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault and called for a full investigation following the release of a report on the lack of freedom of federal government scientists to speak with the public and journalists.

“How can Canadians engage and input into policy decisions about issues of interest, without access to the objective, evidence-based information they have funded as taxpayers?" concluded MP Murray. "As Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, I would ensure scientists can contribute to the public debate, and end this disturbing trend of having the government manage scientific information for political purposes.”