Canadian groups demand inquiry into ‘muzzling’ of researchers

A university law centre and a citizens’ advocacy group in Canada have filed a joint complaint with the information commissioner over what they say are speech restrictions on government scientists in recent years.

Democracy Watch, a Canadian non-profit organisation that advocates “democratic reform, government accountability, and corporate responsibility”, and the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Clinic submitted a report that claims the federal government has prevented government scientists and other civil servants from speaking freely to the media.