Accountability Part 2

Not 15 minutes after making my last post, I have come across some more wonderful news from the Harper camp. Doubtful that many have heard of Mark Tushingham. Indeed I hadn't before today, and if our Prime Minister has his way, it's doubtful that many will hear his name anytime soon. Mark Tushingham works for the Oil, Gas and Energy branch of Environment Canada, and as evidenced in this article, a novel penned by Mr. Tushingham must contain too many government secrets:

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.
Also yesterday, the government said it was axing 15 research programs
related to the Kyoto climate-change protocol and aimed at reducing the
greenhouse gases thought to cause global warming.

Tushingham was also warned not to speak to reporters and spent much of
yesterday in hiding, said his publisher, Elizabeth Margaris, head of
DreamCatcher Publishing. Margaris flew into Ottawa from New Brunswick
specifically to introduce her author at the luncheon, only to learn upon her
arrival that he was not allowed to speak.

Margaris was visibly shaken by the gagging. "Isn't this outrageous?"
Margaris said. "This has never happened to me before."

The PMO insists that the information chill in Ottawa is more perceived than
real — a product of a media culture that got too accustomed to the hyper-availability of former prime minister Paul Martin's
regime. [emphasis added]

What the hell is going on? Are public book burnings next? Too accustomed to the hyper-availability of Paul Martin's regime? Are we in the twilight zone? This is scary folks. This government is not showing that it deserves our trust.

In a final note, I suggest having a look at this article from last Friday's Globe and Mail. Here's the thesis statement:

People who work for cabinet ministers could still walk out
the door and take a job with a lobbying firm through exemptions in the
government's proposed federal accountability act.

Even though I don't agree with Mr. Harper's politics, and would never vote Conservative, I had given him the benefit of the doubt that perhaps his portrayal of himself as honest might have been sincere. I stand truly disappointed.