MUZZLING OF SCIENTISTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

Thursday's Elmira Independent carrys an opinion from David Suzuki titled "Muzzling scientists is an assault on democracy". Mr. Suzuki's main target is our current sitting federal Conservative government in Ottawa. The problem is most dramatic "...when the scientists' research or point of view runs counter to current government policies on matters such as environmental protection, oil sands development, and climate change...". Numerous scientific publications have sounded the alarm and last July hundreds of scientists marched on Parliament hill protesting "the death of evidence".

Further Mr. Suzuki has this to say "Countries where governments hold a tight rein on information, shut down or stifle research that runs counter to their priorities, and demonize and attack opponents are never good places to live. We have to make sure Canada doesn't become one.".