Why am I reminded of Linda Keen?

Federal biologist loses job in dispute over leaked memo

Why am I reminded of Linda Keen?......it seems the Harper government doesn't share my views on the need for public safety, in whatever form. food inspection, nuclear safety, Maxine Bernier’s dossiers.

At least we can be comforted to know that the US Air Force will be patrolling the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.


Documents appear to involve a significant revamping of food inspection

Canwest News Service Published: Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Federal biologist loses job in dispute over leaked memo

Canwest News Service Published: Tuesday, July 08, 2008

OTTAWA - A federal scientist was fired after distributing classified documents he found improperly posted on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's server outlining plans to turn over more inspections to the food industry.

Luc Pomerleau, a biologist who worked for the federal government for 20 years with an "unblemished record" was fired last week for giving the document to his union, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.

The documents appear to involve a significant revamping of food inspection that will shift more of the onus for food safety to the suppliers that manufacture and distribute food and other products. The changes are part of the government's strategic review, which requires departments to find savings worth 5% of their operating budgets that can be reallocated to the Harper government's priorities.

Union president Michele Demers said Pomerleau is a scapegoat and his firing is an over-reaction.

She argued the breach was caused by whoever improperly scanned those documents and then left them on the agency's server.

"The obvious reason for this immoderate response is undoubtedly the agency's fear that the public will react badly to the substantial changes in product labelling and food inspection methods and procedures being proposed by the CFIA. These changes will amplify risk management, and the risk will be to the health of Canadian citizens," says Demers.


PS. What became of this initiative? Or was that simply code for “we will do less food inspection”? Sort of like “we won’t raid seniors nest eggs”, whereupon the Harper CONs did just that?