I've run into this issue several times. I've actually had conference presentations etc. where I've worked with government scientists but they've asked to have their names left off it because otherwise it would have to go through the Prime Minister's Office and approval would be almost impossible to get - and nothing I've been working on is particularly contentious or political.
Of course a lot of those same scientists are likely to be laid off soon - one group I work with had their budget cut by 40%, with another 20% to come, and human resources has been sending around lots of memos on how to deal with career changes.
I know of an Environment Canada scientist who was nearing the end of a multi-year experiment related to oil sands effluents - in the middle of the night her lab was locked up and the power shut off, ending the experiment and ensuring they couldn't get their data. Ice cores used to evaluate climate change were left to melt when the facility they were kept in was shut down. Both of those cases would likely have had results that didn't support the Conservative ideology of course.
Overall not a good time to be doing science for the government. But the best way to stay in power is to keep people ignorant.
|