'Loose-lipped' MP's will be punished: PM

[tuvor]

OTTAWA -- Ministers in the new Conservative government have been warned they could be banned from travelling, publicly humiliated or even fired for verbal gaffes.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is determined not to have his agenda derailed and his ministers have been made aware they will face punishment for loose-lipped indiscretions.

Harper's chief of staff, Ian Brodie, has given colleagues in ministers' offices stark warnings about varying sanctions for cabinet members who either embarrass or contradict the government in public, sources say.

The worst of those penalties -- being dumped from cabinet, shuffled to another portfolio, or barred from official trips -- have not been imposed yet.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=8a64e7f3-c7d6-4a6b-a29d-f3f5afa3437f&k=6333

[CHIMO]

1. Climate change expert muzzled

Federal scientist told not to speak about his novel
Government also axes 15 Kyoto research programs

OTTAWA—The new, heavy communications hand of Conservative Ottawa has reached into the realm of fiction, with an Environment Canada scientist muzzled from speaking about his novel on climate change.

Mark Tushingham's new book is called Hotter than Hell, but yesterday he was plunged into the icy reality of the new Conservative communications regime, where ministers, MPs and the media are encountering strict new controls over the flow of information to the public.

Shortly before Tushingham was due to give a luncheon speech in Ottawa about his novel — a futuristic account of Canada and the U.S. at war over water resources in a globally warmed world — he received an email from the environment minister's office, warning him not to attend the event.

Paradoxically, the incident takes place during the same week the Conservatives unveiled new "whistleblower" protection, designed to shield outspoken public servants from intimidation and threats to their livelihood.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1144965014231&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467

[ClusterFreak]

3. I love this shit too. n/t

[Mother Jones]

4. Too bad this wasn't more widely reported.

There has been nothing reported on this whatsoever, out here. (rural Ont)

I checked all the local newspapers and A-channel out of Barrie. (formerly known as the new VR)


In fact, they managed to spin Harper muzzling his MPs to sound like a good thing!

[ClusterFreak]

2. I love this shit.

Love.

It.

[LeftistGorilla]

5. It's all about...

making MPs more accountable...


:eyes: