Canada's return to the Dark Ages

Science and Technology
#1

Apparently all the impressive advances through science we’ve made in the last several centuries aren’t really that important based on how fundamentally the Canadian government has been attacking science.
Take your pick of the many different examples of how adverse to reason our PM and cabinet seems to be.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/news/stifling-science/
Libraries, world recognized research centers and entire departments cut to the bone in the name of cost saving. Scientists themselves no longer feel free to speak openly about what should be openly accessible information.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/21/government-scientists-muzzled_n_4137104.html?utm_hp_ref=stifling-science

A large survey of science professionals in the federal public service has found that almost 25 per cent of respondents say they have been directly asked to exclude or alter information for "non-scientific reasons." Some 71 per cent of those surveyed said political interference is compromising policy development based on scientific evidence, and almost half of those who took part said they were aware of cases in which their department or agency suppressed information. The study, entitled "The Big Chill," was commissioned by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, and paints a disturbing picture of government scientists who feel they are being muzzled.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/02/14/scientist-silence_n_4792820.html?utm_hp_ref=stifling-science
At an annual conference in Truro, N.S., that brings fishermen and scientists together to promote ocean research, some researchers declined to discuss their work with media because they did not have approval to do so. Scientists across the country have been expressing growing alarm over federal programs monitoring areas that range from climate change and ocean habitats to public health, worried Canadians are being deprived of crucial scientific information. On Friday, the 21st annual meeting of the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society gathered in Nova Scotia’s “Hub City" to discuss the latest fisheries and oceans research. A news release was sent, inviting media to the event — however many researchers declined to speak to CBC News, saying they did not have permission from their superiors to answer questions about government-funded research.
Nazis burned books, but so does the Canadian government. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/08/gail-shea-fisheries-libraries-book-burn_n_4562894.html?utm_hp_ref=stifling-science
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea is denying reports that scientific research was burned or discarded in the name of cost-cutting. And Shea says the decision to consolidate Department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries was about standing up for taxpayers, not stifling science. The department has been accused of committing a "knowledge massacre" by shuttering seven of its 11 regional libraries this fall and reportedly purging irreplaceable information, some of which is more than 100 years old, by only digitizing a small fraction of its 600,000 plus collection.
The government claims the issue is being blown out of proportion, but scientists say differently. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/30/fisheries-libraries-science-gail-shea_n_4693445.html?utm_hp_ref=stifling-science
It's costing the federal government more than $22,000 to dispose of books and research material from Fisheries and Oceans scientific libraries across the country, according to new documents. The information comes from the office of Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea. It was prompted by a request from Liberal MP Lawrence MacAulay last October, after reports surfaced that seven Fisheries and Oceans libraries were being closed and the materials destroyed. "These numbers prove it that was a destructive process," said MacAulay in an interview with CBC News. Fisheries and Oceans is closing seven of its 11 libraries by 2015. It's hoping to save more than $443,000 in 2014-15 by consolidating its collections into four remaining libraries.
At a time when the natural world around us is going through dramatic changes which will certainly affect all of us, the Canadian government is busy destroying the ability of scientists here to to do their jobs and communicate essential information to the citizens of this country.
#2

So what’s the reaction of Canadians to all this?

#3
So what's the reaction of Canadians to all this?
Eh?
#4

Haven’t there been several swings to conservatism in large countries following 911? The US obviously, Canada, Australia, Germany I think, Russia definitely. Others? I don’t want to start a whole nuther 911 thread, but it’s something I often think about when I think back to Hillary Clinton saying there was a huge right wing conspiracy out to get her husband. But I think she was just being near-sighted. Impeaching, or at least preparing the way for a stooge like Bush Jr was just part of a larger plan to implement 911, clearing the way for the US and other countries to take similar measures under the guise of the war on terror. And globally to make way for Fascism in the guise of patriotism. The ol’ “Fascism will come to America wrapped in a flag and a bible” applied to all large countries.

#5
So what's the reaction of Canadians to all this?
That's hard to gauge, the public forum in this country has become so polarized it's difficult to access overall reactions. Scientists are certainly getting politically active along with many other groups including veterans who have been severely marginalized by the Harper government. It takes a lot to get scientists to march in protest, but that's been going on here. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/16/stand-up-for-science-protests-harper_n_3936992.html?utm_hp_ref=stifling-science
Hundreds of frustrated scientists clad in their telltale white lab coats descended Monday on Parliament Hill to demand that the Harper government stop muzzling scientists and cutting research funding. "What do we want? Evidence-based decision-making!" chanted the protesters as they gathered in the shadow of the Peace Tower, complaining about what they see as the government's efforts to commercialize research. The very fact that such a typically apolitical group felt the need to make their voices heard speaks volumes, said Jeremy Kerr, a biology professor at the University of Ottawa.
The federal election next year is going to show just how engaged Canadians really are, and whether or not they really want to live in Harper's far right utopia he seems to be busy trying to create.
#6
Haven't there been several swings to conservatism in large countries following 911? The US obviously, Canada, Australia, Germany I think, Russia definitely. Others? I don't want to start a whole nuther 911 thread, but it's something I often think about when I think back to Hillary Clinton saying there was a huge right wing conspiracy out to get her husband. But I think she was just being near-sighted. Impeaching, or at least preparing the way for a stooge like Bush Jr was just part of a larger plan to implement 911, clearing the way for the US and other countries to take similar measures under the guise of the war on terror. And globally to make way for Fascism in the guise of patriotism. The ol' "Fascism will come to America wrapped in a flag and a bible" applied to all large countries.
I don't think there's been a swing to conservatism here, the conservatives used anger against the Liberals over the Sponsorship scandal to eke out a bare minority in 2006 and they've been pulling a kicking and screaming public as far to the right as they can since then. But you can only bully and intimidate people so long before they get organized and fight back. More than enough Canadians are tired of the arrogance and lack of basic empathy shown repeatedly by the conservative government here, the last time the nation was in this kind of mood the first version of the conservative party was virtually annihilated in the General Election of 1993. The conservatives are probably going to have to stage an overt coup as opposed to the covert one they've been running on for almost eight years here if they want to stay in power next year. I also wonder how most Americans would feel if Bush or Obama had started to refer to America by Party or even personal affiliation as has been happening here. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/documents-show-harperization-of-government-communications/article4179567/
Despite Conservative assertions to the contrary, a directive did go out to some civil servants last fall ordering them to use the term “Harper Government" in official government of Canada communications. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press contradict a published denial by Dimitri Soudas, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former director of communications, who wrote “nothing could be further from the truth."
#7

What’s going on here is scary when you consider how ignorant our government is on such crucial issues as climate change.
The suppression of science is probably an outward expression of an inward focusing mentality on the part of many government MPs.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/cameron-fenton/climate-change-harper-government_b_4805748.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-politics

On a global scale, food security in the age of climate change is a serious concern with reports warning that climate change could drive up food prices and lead to millions of people living in a state of food insecurity. In the context of this agricultural insecurity, Gerry Ritz, Canada's Minister for Agriculture, told the House of Commons last week that "this cold weather can't last forever. This global warming has to stop some time". Ritz's commentary is bizarre, scientifically flawed and ridiculous. For someone with the political responsibility of overseeing Canada's agricultural sector to lack a basic understanding of climate science, one of the greatest threats to food security, is beyond bad politics -- it's dangerous. What's more worrying though, is rather than being the exception, Ritz's view seems more and more like the norm for Canada's governing party. In the same week that Minister Ritz made his comments to the house, fellow Conservative Member of Parliament Gordon O'Connor spoke out in a committee meeting, telling fellow MPs that his "problem is with the words 'climate change.' I don't know what those words mean because they're a buzz phrase. Climate change. If we're talking about what is our preparedness for natural disasters, that's one thing, but climate change, if you want to talk about the climate, the climate always changes. It goes hot. It goes cold, etc."
On the international forum the Canadian government has received repeated Fossil awards for efforts to sabotage any effective agreements on how to mitigate climate change. http://climateactionnetwork.ca/?p=26720 http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2013/11/22/canada-wins-lifetime-unachievement-fossil-award-at-warsaw-climate-talks/
WARSAW, Poland, November 22, 2013 – Canada was dishonoured with an inauspicious ‘Lifetime Unachievement’ Fossil award this evening during the final official day of the UN climate negotiations. Granted as part of the long-running satirical Fossil of the Day / Fossil of the Year awards series, the special prize was given to point to the Harper government’s longstanding failure to make meaningful contributions and instead resort to blocking and stalling progress at the UN climate talks. -
Put the two together, the Canadian government has no real understanding of the physical aspects of climate change,but they don't want anyone else to come to an agreement to resolve this very serious issue if it impacts the fossil fuel sector. Basically the current Canadian government is being driven by a mixture of profound stupidity mixed with an overriding greed.
#8

Good to know it’s not just us here in the States. Hate to feel like the only ones.

#9
Good to know it's not just us here in the States. Hate to feel like the only ones.
Misery loves company. Lois
#10

I’m pretty sure that some people have been warning us about this for a long time, maybe we should have taken them more seriously.