Five non-partisan officials who have run afoul of the Harper government

OTTAWA – A list of five non-partisan public officials who have run afoul of the Harper government and been personally targeted by the government:

Beverley McLachlin, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada: accused this week of placing an “inadvisable and inappropriate” call to Prime Minister Stephen Harper over last summer’s vetting of high court nominee Marc Nadon.

Marc Mayrand, chief electoral officer at Elections Canada: accused of wearing a “team jersey” as Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre introduced election law changes in February 2014.

Kevin Page, former parliamentary budget officer: His assessment of old age security sustainability was called “unbelievable, unreliable, incredible” by then-finance minister Jim Flaherty in February 2012.

Remi Beauregard, former president of the government-funded advocacy group Rights and Democracy: Died of heart attack in January 2009 after a heated battle with his newly appointed board.

Linda Keen, former president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: Fired in January 2008 after ordering a safety-related shutdown of a nuclear reactor that produced medical isotopes.