Canadian health ministry faces criticism for its secrecy

According to the Canadian Association of Journalists, Canada's federal health ministry, Health Canada, is the most secretive government department in Canada. On 9 May the association awarded Health Canada its fourth annual “code of silence” award for showing “remarkable zeal in suppressing information” and “concealing vital data about dangerous drugs.”

“Government officials everywhere hide vital information that they think might embarrass them, their departments, or their political leaders,” said the association's president, Paul Schneidereit. The code of silence award honours government officials' efforts to “shroud open government.”

According to …