Brown Shirts Infiltrate Canadian Bureaucracy

In order to write this post and keep it as inoffensive as possible, I have spent the last 15 minutes outside bellowing as many curses, expletives and viturperatives into the wind in a vain attempt to get overly offensive diction out of my system before putting fingertips to the keys.

I am also aware that for most readers of this humble personal journal the subject of Canadian politics is a sure fire way to prompt an instantaneous outclick to the next blog. I am certain that most of you have already done so.

But I am so beside myself with rage I cannot help myself, and must press onwards with this diatribe. My apologies in advance.

As I indicated a short while ago in a previous post, the recent election of the Conservative Party of Canada was about to inflict upon this nation a secret fascistic agenda. Not one week later, it appears that the muzzling of free speech has already reached a new level.

An Environment Canada scientist, as a private citizen, wrote a novel concerning global warming entitled Hotter than Hell. He was invited to discuss his book publicly at the National Press Club in Ottawa this past week, but was ordered by his department not to. Canadian Tory prime minister Stephen Harper was later quoted as declaring "I obviously not only hope, but expect, that all elements of the bureaucracy will be working with us to achieve our objectives".

There were some early indications of Harper's obsessive-compulsive desire to control free speech. Cabinet minsters have been warned that they will be dumped from their portfolio should they make any public remark which deviates from the official Tory party line. As well, all letters to editors have to first be approved by the Prime Minister's Office. His personal director of communications recently stated she didn't think "the average Canadian cares [about reduced media access to cabinet ministers]".

It is very ironic that the first plank in the government's electoral platform was presented to Parliament last week, the so-called Accountability Act, promising a more open and transparent government for Canadians.

Mark my words, this is only the start.