I was aware very early on after moving to Vancouver that there was tension between (at least some of) the scientific...
I was aware very early on after moving to Vancouver that there was tension between (at least some of) the scientific community and the conservative government. This seems to fall well within that friction, especially the ongoing concerns that the government was interfering with what scientists could and could not say.
This particular situation highlights more of a conflict between being employed by a government agency, and having a right as a citizen to express your personal opinions about the government. At least initially, it seems this was a person who is a folk singer who wrote a protest song, which isn't outside of what they've done for some time. They also happen to be a scientist who works for a government agency, which they have also done for some time and simultaneously.
I can't quite tell if this is a case of some precise details (which are note presently available to the public) being at issue, versus the whole idea of expressing your personal opinions which may be critical of your employer (the government). The song was not sung at work, nor specifically promoted in the context of his position as an employee of Environment Canada, but it is obviously critical of the Harper government. It's very 60s/70s, really.
Anyway, I've also linked the Values and Ethics Code because I wanted to see the wording, and because you probably could interpret it as you can never criticize the sitting government even privately. Which seems kind of undemocratic, but that depends on how they review it, I guess.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harperman-tony-turner-scientist-investigation-1.3207390
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=25049
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harperman-tony-turner-scientist-investigation-1.3207390
This particular situation highlights more of a conflict between being employed by a government agency, and having a right as a citizen to express your personal opinions about the government. At least initially, it seems this was a person who is a folk singer who wrote a protest song, which isn't outside of what they've done for some time. They also happen to be a scientist who works for a government agency, which they have also done for some time and simultaneously.
I can't quite tell if this is a case of some precise details (which are note presently available to the public) being at issue, versus the whole idea of expressing your personal opinions which may be critical of your employer (the government). The song was not sung at work, nor specifically promoted in the context of his position as an employee of Environment Canada, but it is obviously critical of the Harper government. It's very 60s/70s, really.
Anyway, I've also linked the Values and Ethics Code because I wanted to see the wording, and because you probably could interpret it as you can never criticize the sitting government even privately. Which seems kind of undemocratic, but that depends on how they review it, I guess.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harperman-tony-turner-scientist-investigation-1.3207390
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=25049
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harperman-tony-turner-scientist-investigation-1.3207390
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