From Torontosun.com

OTTAWA -- If Stephen Harper muzzled federal government scientists, then Justin Trudeau has failed to lift the muzzle, a federal public sector union says in a memo obtained by Postmedia Network.

Mind you, data quietly tabled in the House of Commons earlier this summer suggests that Harper's "muzzle" appeared to be ineffective. That data shows that federal government scientists gave nearly 1,500 media interviews in the 12 months prior to last October's election.

Nonetheless, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) -- the union that represents tens of thousands of federal government scientists -- says the Trudeau government is continuing a Harper government communications policy that prevents scientists from participating in conferences.

Moreover, "a communications policy was issued by (the Trudeau government) with the intention to end 'muzzling' but its implementation remains uneven across science-based departments," PIPSC says in a submission to Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

The union is calling on Morneau to hire another 1,500 federal government scientists and to open collective agreements to include a clause to "enshrine the principles of scientific integrity."

The government already employs about 39,000 scientists and technicians.

During the Harper years, some scientists complained they were forbidden from discussing their research, could not attend academic conferences, and that some had to wait weeks -- months, even -- for approval to speak publicly about their work.

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