In the past, Stephen Harper has pledged to have a more open, transparent government which leaves me a bit confused. Is his idea of transparency "muzzling" scientists and restricting scientific information available to Canadians? Hmm, that's not what I thought it meant so I looked it up and found a few definitions of transparency that don't seem to match Harper's ridiculously nontransparent actions.
"Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability."
"In politics, transparency is used as a means of holding public officials accountable and fighting corruption. When a government's meetings are open to the press and the public, its budgets may be reviewed by anyone, and its laws and decisions are open to discussion, it is seen as transparent, and there is less opportunity for the authorities to abuse the system for their own interests." (The Transparency of Politics and the Quality of Politicians)
Read the articles below and then ask yourself how transparent the Harper government is.
- http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20120218/science-government-research-120218/
- http://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/earthmatters/2012/02/16/science-journalists-appeal-harper-open-letter-stop-muzzling
- http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/02/16/prime-minister-please-stop-muzzling-scientists-and-researchers-open-letter/
For more information on transparency:
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