“Information is the lifeblood of a democracy. Without adequate access to key information about government policies and programs, citizens and parliamentarians cannot make informed decisions and incompetent or corrupt governments can be hidden under a cloak of secrecy.” – Mr. Harper, in essay from 2005
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- Mr. Harper’s government has been muzzling Canadian scientists, preventing them from reporting vital information to Canadians.
[Source, Source] - Mr. Harper’s government has removed the National Science Advisor. The National Science Advisor plays an essential role of bridging the scientific community and government.
[Source, Source] - Mr. Harper’s government prevented a scientist from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans from discussing her research showing the decline of salmon stock.
[Source, Source] - Mr. Harper prevented an Environment Canada scientist from notifying Canadians of “unprecedented” Arctic ozone loss.
[Source, Source] - Mr. Harper’s government stopped Environment Canada from talking to the media about a study verifying snow borne Tar Sands pollutants in Northern Alberta and cancerous fish in the Athabasca River.
[Source, Source] - Mr. Harper’s government fired the president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission hours before she was to testify before committee on the safety of the Chalk River nuclear centre – the oldest running reactor in the world.
[Source, Source, Source] - Mr. Harper eliminated the Long Form Census. Without it, numerous research projects and studies cannot continue and it is now more difficult to anticipate the needs of Canadians.
[Source, Source] - Mr. Harper has weakened food regulations so that more pesticides remain on Canadian food. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency biologist who attempted to warn Canadians was fired.
[Source, Source, Source] - Under Mr. Harper’s government, Canadian media coverage of climate change science has been reduced by 80%. By 2017, funding for climate change and clean air programs will be reduced from $118 million to $55 million.
[Source, Source] - Mr. Harper’s government shut down the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, a vital program to the Canadian agricultural industry and scientific community.
[Source, Source] - Despite warnings from scientists, Mr. Harper’s government increased the fishing quota of northern cod by 33%. This could potentially cause a complete collapse of the species and an end of a fishing source.
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