Hard_Rom
Northumbrian Skald
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/unmuzzled-scientist-facebook-mother-1.3309303
Unmuzzled federal biologist Facebook post goes viral
Online posting by fisheries biologist's mother racks up thousands of likes and shares
A Facebook post from the mother of an unmuzzled B.C. biologist has gone viral, shedding more insight into the changes in the control of information since the new federal government took office last week. Paterson quoted a status update her son made on his personal Facebook account, where he announced that his DFO supervisors told him the muzzle order on scientists had been lifted. He said the changes were announced by his supervisors at an all staff meeting on Thursday.
Kristi Miller, a B.C.-based molecular geneticist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, was among the first scientists to speak out after the unmuzzling. In 2011, she was prevented from discussing her research into the 2009 Fraser River sockeye salmon collapse following its publication.
"When we were banned, it almost made government scientists second-class citizens in the scientific arena," she said. "It was quite embarrassing. I really felt like a second-class citizen."
Navdeep Bains, the new minister of innovation, science and economic development, announced the policy change Friday, two days after Trudeau and his cabinet were sworn in.
"Our government values science and will treat scientists with respect. That is why government scientists and experts will be able to speak freely about their work to the media and the public," he said in a written statement.
"We are working to make government science fully available to the public and will ensure that scientific analyses are considered in decision making."
The previous government of former prime minister Stephen Harper brought in a restrictive communications policy that required national or international media requests to speak with federal government scientists to be approved by a minister's office, and all communications with government scientists to go through a government communications office.
Unmuzzled federal biologist Facebook post goes viral
Online posting by fisheries biologist's mother racks up thousands of likes and shares
A Facebook post from the mother of an unmuzzled B.C. biologist has gone viral, shedding more insight into the changes in the control of information since the new federal government took office last week. Paterson quoted a status update her son made on his personal Facebook account, where he announced that his DFO supervisors told him the muzzle order on scientists had been lifted. He said the changes were announced by his supervisors at an all staff meeting on Thursday.
Kristi Miller, a B.C.-based molecular geneticist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, was among the first scientists to speak out after the unmuzzling. In 2011, she was prevented from discussing her research into the 2009 Fraser River sockeye salmon collapse following its publication.
"When we were banned, it almost made government scientists second-class citizens in the scientific arena," she said. "It was quite embarrassing. I really felt like a second-class citizen."
Navdeep Bains, the new minister of innovation, science and economic development, announced the policy change Friday, two days after Trudeau and his cabinet were sworn in.
"Our government values science and will treat scientists with respect. That is why government scientists and experts will be able to speak freely about their work to the media and the public," he said in a written statement.
"We are working to make government science fully available to the public and will ensure that scientific analyses are considered in decision making."
The previous government of former prime minister Stephen Harper brought in a restrictive communications policy that required national or international media requests to speak with federal government scientists to be approved by a minister's office, and all communications with government scientists to go through a government communications office.
