karen louise smith

A recent news story reports that under Prime Minister Harper, there has been a reduced access to scientists experienced by journalists seeking information. Scientists and civil servants more broadly are essential to share information and make government accountable to the people.

In a paper I am working on to explore the meaning of political and technological transparency, I came across an interesting quote from Canada's first Prime Minister. As Prime Minister John A. MacDonald argued passionately to defeat a motion to eliminate the Hansard in Canada after it had been in existence for only one year during our early parliamentary history. As documented by the Hansard Association of Canada he stated,

"As a matter of history, it is of the very greatest importance that the remarks of every hon. member, who has a responsibility as the representative of the people should, if we can afford it -- and we can afford it -- be as fully recorded in the official report as those of a leader. I hope we shall not commit such a great mistake, I hope we shall not make such a relapse into barbarism as to throw over the only means by which after generations shall be able to learn what were the subjects of interest engaging our attention, what was the style of speaking and the style of thought, and what were the moving impulses of the people and their representatives in Parliament" (1881).

Please see the Hansard Association of Canada website for the full text from 1881. I'll be continuing to think about the transparency of government as something that needs to happen both inside and outside of parliament.