From Foreign Affairs to Natural Resources, people who work for the government in a number of departments say they've been told not to talk to the media until after the election. As for some of those scheduled to give speeches or public presentations, they say they've been told to submit all texts and materials to their respective public relations departments.

Even a simple call from a reporter to a scientist at Fisheries and Oceans about the growing global problem of "dead zones" in the ocean was told not to expect an interview until after October 14th. When the reporter appealed to the public relations officer, the answer was still "no" in order to maintain "impartiality."

Two other bureaucrats from different departments say their instructions came verbally, from superiors who had received e-mail directives from "the top." The bureaucrats suspect it is a coordinated effort to prevent those written instructions from ending up in the hands of journalists.

Both have worked for the federal government for more than 10 years and worked through several elections. They say this is the first time they've been told not to speak to the public.

But Myriam Massabki says nothing is different this time and that this is how public servants normally operate during an election.

Massabki speaks for the Privy Council Office — the highest office in the public service. She says, "During an election the government acts with restraint, confining itself to necessary public business."

Massabki says public servants may continue to communicate with the public as long as the topics are routine, non-controversial, urgent, factual and/or in the public interest."

— Alison Crawford