Right-think

Greg Weston points out what may be the most extreme suppression of dissent from the federal Cons yet, as they've decreed that even criticizing the government in a letter to a Member of Parliament may be treated as grounds for dismissal:

A recent memo from the Canadian Grain Commission's director of human resources to rank-and-file public servants, for instance, sent a clear message: In Stephen Harper's wonderful world of open and accountable government, having an independent mind and mouth risks not having a job.

Seems one of the major federal public service unions has been encouraging its members at the commission to write to their MPs, opposing Bill C-39 killing federal control of grain sales.

A subsequent e-mail from management, approved at the highest levels of the Harper administration, warned in part: "You are free to convey your views to your Member of Parliament, so long as you do not criticize the Government of Canada, or otherwise bring into question your ability to perform your employment duties."

Translation: As long as you agree with Harper, by all means write and tell your MP. Otherwise, best not leave your office as a return address on the letter.

The muzzle doesn't stop there.

Even letters to the editor that may be critical of The Conservative Truth are apparently out.

"If you identify yourself as a Canadian Grain Commission employee in a letter to the editor that criticizes government policy relating to (the commission), you could create a perception that your views of government policy are not impartial, and that you may not be able to follow or apply government policy in an impartial manner."

Translation: By all means write to the paper, and be sure to check the want ads for your next job opportunity.

If anything, the latter type of muzzle may be somewhat less surprising given the Cons' consistent efforts to control any media coverage. But it's particularly stunning that the Cons have now made it explicit that even a letter to an MP - whose job is of course to represent constituents' interests when it comes to matters of federal policy - is now being treated as unacceptably independent thought for a federal employee.

Update: Mind you, the Cons do seem to have left the door open for employees to write to any MP other than their own. And of course only Con MPs would have any means of tracking who's written what. So for those looking to criticize the government, I'm sure any opposition member will be happy to receive news about the Cons' mismanagement.