Ottawa

Science that dare not speak its name

The Privy Council Office bars a salmon researcher from speaking with reporters.

Science, one of the world’s top research journals, published Miller’s findings in January. The journal considered the work so significant it notified “over 7,400” journalists worldwide about Miller’s “Suffering Salmon” study. Science told Miller to “please feel free to speak with journalists.” It advised reporters to contact Diane Lake, a media officer with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Vancouver, “to set up interviews with Dr. Miller.”

Miller heads a $6-million salmon-genetics project at the federal Pacific Biological Station on Vancouver Island. The documents show major media outlets were soon lining up to speak with Miller, but the Privy Council Office said no to the interviews.