Canadian Minister says StatsCan recommended census changes

Ottawa - Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement stated that Statistics Canada recommended changes to the census, which the federal government is deciding to be voluntary; however, StatsCan sources have denied that they ever made any recommendations.

The last national census in Canada was conducted in 2006 and the next one is scheduled to take place in 2011. Various groups and organizations, including the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and others, claim that the census helps to understand the different population groups and community sizes and what is needed in terms of health care and social services. The Canadian federal government is now in the midst of making the census voluntary and Industry Minister Tony Clement says there have been long-growing complaints about the census since 1981, reports the Toronto Sun. “There are Canadians around this country who were concerned about answering . . . very intrusive questions about their personal lives,” said Clement. “Canadians don't want the government at their doorstep at 10 o'clock at night while they may be doing something in their bedroom, like reading, because government wants to know how many bedrooms they have,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper spokesperson Dmitri Soudas. There have been discussions between Clement and Statistics Canada. Clement told reporters in Ottawa on Friday that he has asked the government agency what can be done to address privacy concerns citizens have, while providing accurate data. “Is there a way that we can … have a balance, get the data that everyone hankers for — private businesses, institutions, NGOs — get that data, but at the same time do so in a way where people can opt out if they have a conscientious objection to doing so?" Clement further stated that StatsCan told him that “robust” information would still be submitted if the voluntary census would have a larger sample size and a bigger advertising campaign. Nevertheless, the Industry Minister claims that StatsCan supports the government’s measure to make the census a voluntary survey, reports the Toronto Star. However, according to the Canadian Press, sources say that StatsCan never made the recommendations and only thought of policy options because Clement made the request. “It wasn't recommended,” one source stated.