Today’s Toronto Star features a national affairs column by James Travers that’s all about the growing opacity in Canada’s government, which owes, not surprisingly, to Conservatives who campaigned on promises of openness. Oh, so much of that have we seen this side of the border—calling something the opposite of what it actually is.

Here’s Travers’ lead:

OTTAWA — Most places are known for something – history, a landmark, or a gifted child who makes the hometown famous. This place is known for what isn’t known.

How much the federal government doesn’t know is sometimes startling. How hard it works to keep Canadians from knowing is sadly profitable. A couple of recent examples, as well as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s Toronto breakfast speech yesterday, measure both.

The complete column is a good read, including the part about how it now “takes longer to learn less” about what Canadian government is and isn’t doing. See it here.

Peace.

Deborah Alicen