The Harper government has spent mega-millions advertising its Economic Action Plan.
Yet, at no cost, it also has done a fine job, inadvertently, of advertising another of its policies - the leashing of federal scientists.
The Economic Action Plan, directed at boosting a recession-plagued economy with government cash, had its merits.
The policy on scientific secrecy, on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to recommend it.
By all accounts, and there have been a good many, Ottawa has been discouraging its scientists, particularly those conducting environmental research, from speaking publicly.
The reason is fairly obvious. Their remarks likely would put pressure on the government to respond, and become more environmentally activist.
Such pressure would complicate Stephen Harper's jobs-and-growth agenda, which is aimed at expediting job-creating resource developments - not always the most pristine undertakings - across Canada.
The government must weigh that concern against the notion that Canada is a free, open society in which taxpayers pay for all research government scientists undertake.
Fair enough, research related to national security should be classified. But related to polar bears? Pacific coast salmon? Greenhouse gas emissions?
The Harper crowd took the reins of government in 2006 by promising a new era of transparency and accountability.
These days, they are under pressure to act on climate change, and so have bombarded their scientists with restrictive protocols and media minders.
The strategy may be convenient, but has left the Conservatives looking bad, especially during a week when they are already under attack for muzzling their own MPs.
Canadians can only wonder what Conservatives are hiding, and are probably fretting about who is safeguarding their environmental interests.
All of which empowers the green movement, which has spared no effort in demonizing the Conservative government.
Indeed, Conservatives have been looking less and less convincing as they try to convince Canadians about the improving environmental profile of Alberta's oilsands development.
But the government isn't stupid. From a Conservative perspective, an overriding emphasis on the economy - climate change be damned - has worked rather well at the ballot box.
Since the ravages of the 2008 recession, financially strapped voters have been preoccupied more by the economy than the environment. And those who do worry about the environment tend not to vote Conservative anyway.
Still, when the world is shifting from combating climate change to merely adapting to its mayhem, it seems counterintuitive for Conservatives to be advertising themselves as more brown than green.
Just lately, they have shut down the Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario, withdrawn from a UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and deep-sixed the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy.
This can't be good strategy when, at the same time, they are aggressively pitching pipelines to carry bitumen around North America.
The Conservative environmental record was a bit easier to swallow when Jim Prentice, a likable and somewhat credible environment minister, was in charge. But he left government in 2010.
His successor, Peter Kent, has been less able to engender public confidence.
The Pembina Institute reported Tuesday, in advance of an anticipated announcement by Kent of new greenhouse gas regulations, that "Canada is on track to miss its 2020 climate target by over 100 million tonnes."
The warning followed news on Monday that federal Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault will be investigating seven government departments in relation to reported restrictions on scientists' ability to speak publicly.
Any finding by Legault against the Harper government would be deeply embarrassing.
Especially as Harper's ministers continue lobbying U.S. President Barack Obama on the Keystone XL oil pipeline and as cabinet prepares in 2014 to make a decision on the Northern Gateway pipeline in B.C.
Original Article
Source: canada.com
Author: Barbara Yaffe
Yet, at no cost, it also has done a fine job, inadvertently, of advertising another of its policies - the leashing of federal scientists.
The Economic Action Plan, directed at boosting a recession-plagued economy with government cash, had its merits.
The policy on scientific secrecy, on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to recommend it.
By all accounts, and there have been a good many, Ottawa has been discouraging its scientists, particularly those conducting environmental research, from speaking publicly.
The reason is fairly obvious. Their remarks likely would put pressure on the government to respond, and become more environmentally activist.
Such pressure would complicate Stephen Harper's jobs-and-growth agenda, which is aimed at expediting job-creating resource developments - not always the most pristine undertakings - across Canada.
The government must weigh that concern against the notion that Canada is a free, open society in which taxpayers pay for all research government scientists undertake.
Fair enough, research related to national security should be classified. But related to polar bears? Pacific coast salmon? Greenhouse gas emissions?
The Harper crowd took the reins of government in 2006 by promising a new era of transparency and accountability.
These days, they are under pressure to act on climate change, and so have bombarded their scientists with restrictive protocols and media minders.
The strategy may be convenient, but has left the Conservatives looking bad, especially during a week when they are already under attack for muzzling their own MPs.
Canadians can only wonder what Conservatives are hiding, and are probably fretting about who is safeguarding their environmental interests.
All of which empowers the green movement, which has spared no effort in demonizing the Conservative government.
Indeed, Conservatives have been looking less and less convincing as they try to convince Canadians about the improving environmental profile of Alberta's oilsands development.
But the government isn't stupid. From a Conservative perspective, an overriding emphasis on the economy - climate change be damned - has worked rather well at the ballot box.
Since the ravages of the 2008 recession, financially strapped voters have been preoccupied more by the economy than the environment. And those who do worry about the environment tend not to vote Conservative anyway.
Still, when the world is shifting from combating climate change to merely adapting to its mayhem, it seems counterintuitive for Conservatives to be advertising themselves as more brown than green.
Just lately, they have shut down the Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario, withdrawn from a UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and deep-sixed the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy.
This can't be good strategy when, at the same time, they are aggressively pitching pipelines to carry bitumen around North America.
The Conservative environmental record was a bit easier to swallow when Jim Prentice, a likable and somewhat credible environment minister, was in charge. But he left government in 2010.
His successor, Peter Kent, has been less able to engender public confidence.
The Pembina Institute reported Tuesday, in advance of an anticipated announcement by Kent of new greenhouse gas regulations, that "Canada is on track to miss its 2020 climate target by over 100 million tonnes."
The warning followed news on Monday that federal Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault will be investigating seven government departments in relation to reported restrictions on scientists' ability to speak publicly.
Any finding by Legault against the Harper government would be deeply embarrassing.
Especially as Harper's ministers continue lobbying U.S. President Barack Obama on the Keystone XL oil pipeline and as cabinet prepares in 2014 to make a decision on the Northern Gateway pipeline in B.C.
Original Article
Source: canada.com
Author: Barbara Yaffe
No comments:
Post a Comment