An information chill has fallen over the province. Provincial officials are refusing to release simple health facts because of a byelection in The Pas.
An election law bans government agencies from advertising or promoting programs during campaigns.
Not everyone agrees the information being denied falls under that law.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority turned down a CTV request this week asking for routine statistics, namely the number of women screened in Manitoba for a cancer-causing gene.
CancerCare Manitoba also postponed a planned story on the benefits of yoga for cancer patients.
Chris Adams from St. Paul’s College believes the information CTV requested falls under exceptions to rules because they relate to public health and are ongoing programs
Adams says it sounds like government agencies are being overcautious because of uncertain political times.
"Ministers have been changed. There's a budget coming at the end of April where we expect some cutbacks occurring, so I think there is a feeling of (skittishness) in the government bureaucracy right now,” said Adams.
The Selinger government had its hand slapped in two previous occasions for violating the act when the former health minister gave CTV a tour of the new birthing centre during the 2011 election and a provincial event celebrating Nellie McClung during two byelections was ruled offside.
In a statement, the Selinger government said those rulings based on Opposition complaints "has put a chill on government agencies. Decisions flowing from the complaints have made government agencies cautious."
The Commissioner of Elections and Elections Manitoba said they could not comment Thursday.
The Tories said a byelection's blackout period on advertising is not an excuse not to govern.
