Scientific journal Nature has reportedly accused the Canadian government of limiting its scientists from speaking publicly about their research. In an editorial, published in the latest issue of the journal, Nature called on the Canadian government to set its scientists free.
The editorial notes that Canada and the US have undergone role reversals in the past six years. According to the editorial, the US has adopted more open practices since the end of George W. Bush's presidency while Canada has gone in the opposite direction.
Policy directives on government communications released through access to information requests reveal that the government has little understanding of the importance of the free flow of scientific knowledge.
The Canadian Science Writers' Association, the World Federation of Science Journalists and several other groups recently sent an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling on him to unmuzzle federal scientists. Among the examples cited was Environment Canada barring Dr. David Tarasick from talking to media persons about his ozone layer research. The research had been published in Nature.
