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Opposition parties are accusing Stephen Harper's self-proclaimed government of openness and transparency of muzzling federal officials and muffling free speech.

Three senior bureaucrats sent e-mails this week saying they could not appear Tuesday to discuss budget cuts before the House of Commons committee that oversees federal spending. The three work for different departments, and all sent e-mails Monday explaining that they could not make their scheduled appearances the following day.

The opposition cited the case as further evidence of a Harper government gag order.

"First the government muzzles its cabinet, then it muzzles its caucus," said Liberal MP Navdeep Bains.

"Now this minority Conservative government has pushed its agenda of secrecy and unaccountability to a new low by censoring non-partisan government officials."

The government operations committee now plans to order the bureaucrats - from Treasury Board, Human Resources and Public Works - to testify.

The imbroglio comes a few days after Toronto-area MP Garth Turner was dumped from the party caucus for allegedly breaking confidentiality rules.