environment canada response to questions about atip documents

7/30/2019 Environment Canada response to questions about ATIP documents

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From: "Johnson,Mark [NCR]" Date: November 20, 2012 1:20:44 PM PSTTo: "Margaret Munro" Cc: "Sweet,Adam [NCR]" , "Dodds,Karen [NCR]"Subject: RE: Comment on David Tarasick documentation/AAAS unmuzzlingsession

Good afternoon, Margaret. Thank you for your request. Please find below Environment Canadasresponses to your questions.

Q1) The documents include briefing notes prepared for Karen Dodds inlate 2011 that describe the media interview policy at EnvironmentCanada. Has the policy changed in the last year? No.

Q2) Re. David Tarasick Interviews - The briefing notes say thedepartment recommended to the Ministers office that this interview takeplace, referring to a request from Postmedia News to speak withTarasick about the ozone study. The interview was denied, however, awritten response to the reporter's questions, authored by Dr. Tarasick,was approved and provided to the reporter." The documents say the

requests from CBC and CTV to interview Tarasick were also turneddown and reporters were sent written responses to questions.Could Mr. Kent or the department comment on why the interview wasturned down and how this fits with Mr. Kent's statements that thegovernment does not muzzle scientists? In 2011, Environment Canada scientists also published 684 peer-reviewedpublications and presented their work at more than 300 conferences. Our 2011 completion rate in terms of requested interviews with EC scientistscompared with interviews granted is over 90%, and we are proud of that

record. Less than 10% of media interview requests could not happen for differentreasons, such as spokesperson availability or reporter availability. Sometimes, requests are very general which makes it difficult to have onespokesperson speak to the issue; hence a written response is moreappropriate.


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Q3) Could Dr. Dodds tell me why she declined to participate in the"unmuzzling" panel at the AAAS?

The premise of this panel discussion was inappropriate. Our record is clear. Environment Canada scientists speak to journalists everysingle day. We are extremely proud of the world-class science produced by EnvironmentCanada. Research by the Departments scientists informs our policydecisions, identifies environmental issues, and helps enforce the laws andregulations that protect Canadas environment.

Q4) Why did Dr. Dodds then attend the session without participating? Dr. Dodds attended the AAAS meeting for 1 day. She participated in anumber of sessions, including sessions with Steve McLean, David Grimes,and the keynote by Mike Lazaridis.

Q5) The documents show it took four days for the department torespond to media requests for comment on issues raised at the AAASunmuzzling panel. In the end no interviews were given and a letter tothe editor by Paul Boothe was sent to the media. Does this examplequalify in Environment Canada's books as a failure to respond in a"timely" way, or a success? Environment Canada received two media requests related to the AAAS, bothin February 2012. In both cases, the reporters deadlines were met.

Q6) And finally, the documents say the department completed 1,200media interviews in 2011 and also responded in writing to mediaquestions. Does the department have a list of the 1,200 media interviewsthat Dr. Boothe says took place in 2011? No.

Q7) Could EC provide a copy of the list and names of peopleinterviewed in this 1,200 interviews? No such list exists. While numbers of interviews are tracked, a complete list


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of interviewers and interviewees is not available.

Q8) If this is not available, where does the number come from?

This number comes from data gathered both by Environment Canada MediaRelations and Environment Canadas Severe Weather Media Access Line.

Q9) Could you also provide a list of the media interview requests thatwere turned down? No such list exists.

Thanks again, Mark JohnsonPorte-parole | SpokespersonDirection gnrale des communications | Communications BranchEnvironnement Canada | Environment Canada10, rue Wellington, 23 e tage | 10 Wellington, 23rd Floor Gatineau (Qubec) K1A 0H3Tl: 819-934-8008 Fax: 819-994-1412

[email protected] du Canada | Government of CanadaSite Web | Website www.ec.gc.caSuivez-nous sur Twitter - @environnementca Follow us on Twitter - @environmentca

From: Margaret Munro [mailto:[email protected]]Sent: November 20, 2012 12:11 PMTo: Sweet,Adam [NCR]; Dodds,Karen [NCR]; Johnson,Mark [NCR]Subject: Comment on David Tarasick documentation/AAAS unmuzzlingsession Hello,

As you are likely aware EC's ATI office has released
https://twitter.com/environmentcahttps://twitter.com/environnementcahttp://www.ec.gc.ca/mailto:[email protected]


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documents re media access to David Tarasick last October, aswell as the documents compiled in response to the"unmuzzling" panel at the AAAS meeting in Vancouver inFebruary.

I am looking for comment from EC on a few issues and pointsmentioned in the documents:1. The documents include briefing notes prepared for KarenDodds in late 2011 that describe the media interview policy atEnvironment Canada. Has the policy changes in the last year?2. Re . David Tarasick InterviewsThe briefing notes say the department recommended to theMinisters office that this interview take place, referring to a

request from Postmedia News to speak with Tarasick about theozone study. The interview was denied, however, a writtenresponse to the reporter's questions, authored by Dr. Tarasick,was approved and provided to the reporter." The documentssay the requests from CBC and CTV to interview Tarasick werealso turned down and reporters were sent written responses toquestions.Could Mr. Kent or the department comment on why theinterview was turned down and how this fits with Mr. Kent's

statements that the government does not muzzle scientists. 3. Could Dr. Dodds tell me why she declined to participate inthe "unmuzzling" panel at the AAAS.Why did she then attend the session without participating? 4. The documents show it took four days for the department torespond to media requests for comment on issues raised at the AAAS unmuzzling panel. In the end no interviews were given

and a letter to the editor by Paul Boothe was sent to the media.Does this example qualify in Environment Canada's books asa failure to respond in a "timely" way, or a success? 5. And finally, the documents say the department completed1,200 media interviews in 2011 and also responded in writingto media questions.


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Does the department have a list of the 1,200 media interviewsthat Dr. Boothe says took place in 2011. Could EC provide acopy of the list and names of people interviewed. If not, wheredoes the number come from. Could you also provide a list of the

media interview requests that were turned down. I need to complete and file my story by 5 pm Pacific time today.

Appreciate your help,

Margaret Munro

Margaret MunroSenior Writer, SciencePOSTMEDIA NEWSt (604) [email protected]://twitter.com/margaretmunroP OS TMEDIA/
http://twitter.com/margaretmunromailto:[email protected]

environment canada response to questions about atip documents

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