Almost daily, more evidence surfaces that Canada's government is guided by tribalists averse to scientific reason in favour of Biblical fundamentalism -- or what some call "evangelical religious skepticism."

The article goes on to point out Harper's government's creepy skepticism and dislike of science.  The Tyee article cites a frightening article in Nature, Frozen Out: Canada's government should free its scientists to speak to the press, as its US counterpart has. From the article:

Since Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party won power in 2006, there has been a gradual tightening of media protocols for federal scientists and other government workers. Researchers who once would have felt comfortable responding freely and promptly to journalists are now required to direct inquiries to a media-relations office, which demands written questions in advance, and might not permit scientists to speak. Canadian journalists have documented several instances in which prominent researchers have been prevented from discussing published, peer-reviewed literature. Policy directives and e-mails obtained from the government through freedom of information reveal a confused and Byzantine approach to the press, prioritizing message control and showing little understanding of the importance of the free flow of scientific knowledge.

I know nearly everyone is probably well aware of this next little ditty already, but all of this reminds me of three years ago when the Minister of Science Gary Goodyear who refused to state he believed in the theory of evolution because of his Christianity! He thought it was a religious question. 

This guy later said that whether or not he believed in evolution isn't at all relevant to his position as science minister!

At least he was ridiculed appropriately in 2009 for this.  This didn't stop him from slashing government funding for science by 149$ million in 2009, most notably all funding for the Centre of Applied Genomics in the Children's Hospital at Toronto.  But he's still in goverment as the Science minister now in 2012 under Stephen Harper.

It seems like Canada is following in the footsteps of the Americans, down the perilous path the Theocracy.

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