It never stops. In fact it’s getting worse. Disagree publicly with Harper? Put a muzzle on it.
The control the Conservatives have over this country is scary. It was once just the messaging, now it’s spread to the attempted silencing of scientists, public servants, artists and now rival politicians.
ST. JOHN’S – New Democrat MP Ryan Cleary is crying foul after being barred from touring the 9 Wing Gander airbase by federal officials.
Cleary, who represents St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, has been a fierce critic of the government’s handling of Search and Rescue operations in Gander, and recently, he said he was invited to come for a tour by a senior official at the base.
“He said please come tour the base, go up in one of the Cormorants, talk to our officials, talk to all the personnel, you know, get that first-hand account from the base,” Cleary said.
“I’m getting a green light from the ground up in Gander, but then the minister shuts it down.”
In an email from an official in Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s office, Cleary was told that a tour of the facility would be too much of a disruption.
“In short, conducting such tours would undoubtedly detract from the high operational tempo of this important facility and aircraft, and thus limit the normal functioning of both facility and aircraft) and that of its personnel,” read the email from Merv Frame, senior special assistant in MacKay’s office.
“I think that’s a load of crap,” Cleary said. “My question is, what’s MacKay trying to hide? Why is the minister denying my attempt to get the facts and better inform future debate?”
