BeaverFever BeaverFever:
1) I'm not so sure "they hold no expertise" in the subject. That seems to be the political party's talking point. Does a Registered Nurse "hold no expertise" in health care since a nurse is not a doctor?
2) They're not expressing their "personal opinipn." The media engages them for information and they respond - it's not even clear what exactly their response has been and it's pure speculation on your part that they've been providing a "personal opinion" that is "unfounded" or "beyond their expertise" or that anything they're saying is even contradictory to Harper's agenda.
3) Of couse you note that the climatologists, like all other government scientists are already long-muzzled by Harperites. Meteorologists had a freer reign, since their job entails deailing the media daily.
Since my anecdote missed getting through let's try it this way.
Point 1.
If you'd prefer a nurse to diagnose your brain tumour feel free. Or maybe the oil monkey from Quickie Lube to diagnose the check your engine light, but not me since neither of them are experts at making those diagnosis despite the fact they "work" in their respective fields and by extension the same thing likely applies when you compare meteorologists to climatologists. BTW Politicians and Meteorologists are the only two occupations in the country where you can be 100% wrong all the time and still keep your job.
Point 2.
Nobody said their responses were contradictory to "Harpers" alleged agenda. What is being said is that they're responding to questions that, whether they like it or not are giving "reporters" the ability to use those responses as the official gov't position simply because they're employed by that Gov't. So since Harper has been at odds with media for years now it only stands to reason that he wouldn't want "any' gov't employee speaking to them if he can avoid it.
Point 3.
I never said climatologists were or weren't muzzled, that's your position. I said it's a different issue but, given your animosity towards the current gov't and it's policies I shouldn't have expected you to be able to differentiate the two.
So I hope this addresses some, most or all of your concerns because to be honest I'm getting tired of beating my head against the alter of your partisanship just to make you understand that my position on the topic is. People who work in the Gov't aren't allowed to intentionally or unintentionally infer that they represent the Gov'ts position on a subject when making statements which, despite the fact they deal with the media daily doesn't change that fact.
Another anecdote. In the late 90's when the media started inquiring about Sailors using food banks because of the high cost of living in Victoria we were instructed not to talk to them and were told to direct all questions to the Naval Public Affairs Office. So, it may be a decade and a half but the premise remains the same. Just because you work for the Gov't doesn't mean you have the right to give opinion on a topic especially if it embarrasses your employer like this one did.
The muzzle for gov't employees has been going on for decades but the only reason we're talking about it now is because Harper has been the first to actually come out and publicly stop employees from making statements to the press.
CKA Uber 
Somebody got sucked in.
