A top Ontario bureaucrat says no directives have been issued banning civil servants from using the words “climate change” on official government social media accounts and blames “false information” for reports to the contrary.

The response from acting secretary of cabinet Steven Davidson came Friday after BlogTO reported two separate emails from communications staff in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and at Ontario Parks — who are not Progressive Conservative political staff in the Doug Ford government — advised colleagues the words “climate change” should be avoided.

“The premier’s office never provided direction regarding the reference of climate change in social media posts,” Davidson said in a memo to deputy ministers in all government departments.

“The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks remains responsible for climate change and it remains a priority for this ministry and this government.”

Ford’s executive director of communications reiterated no such directives against using the term “climate change” were issued, something she had previously told BlogTO.

“The premier’s office has never given direction to anyone in the government not to use the term climate change on social media,” Laryssa Waler said in an email. “To say otherwise is 100 per cent false.”

Davidson’s memo did not explain how or why the two staff reached the conclusions relayed in their emails but said an investigation is “underway to determine how this inaccuracy was released to the media.”

A government source told the Star there was a “misinterpretation.”

Concerns about the supposed ban on using “climate change” gained momentum on social media Friday, with some commenters slamming the Ford government for scrapping the previous Liberal government’s cap-and-trade program to curb greenhouse gas emissions — which cause climate change — without a replacement plan in place.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, the MPP for Guelph, also joined the fray with an open letter to Environment Minister Rod Phillips, saying reports of the ban, “if true ... are extreme and unjustified. Government censorship of science is unacceptable in a democracy.”

Phillips, who has frequently used the words “climate change” in the Legislature and committed to “a plan that will deliver lower emissions,” replied to Schreiner that the “email sent to ministry staff was a mistake.”

“I can assure you that no direction from the premier’s office or cabinet office restricting the use of the term ‘climate change’ on social media was given,” Phillips added.

“As you are aware, I have introduced Bill 4 that requires us to develop a climate change plan, set emission reduction targets and report on our progress to the public.”

The cabinet office is comprised of non-partisan civil servants supporting the work of the premier’s office, which is staffed by Progressive Conservatives.

BlogTO reported it had obtained copies of two emails on the ban and posted them online.

One, purportedly from social media co-ordinator Anne MacLachlan at the Ontario Parks office in Peterborough, stated “Per premier’s office direction, we are not allowed to mention climate change in social media content at this time. Please ensure any staff with access to a park social media account, as well as park superintendents, are aware of this direction.”

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The second email, identified as coming from the natural resource ministry’s communications services director Lisa Sarracini, said “PO (premier’s office) has indicated they will not be approving any social posts mentioning climate change at this time. Please ensure any of your staff who may prepare social media content are made aware of this direction.”

Both women declined to comment when reached by the Star on Friday and referred calls to the natural resource ministry’s media desk.

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