List of Organizations AGAINST and SUPPORTING the Government’s Position on the cancellation of the Long Form of the 2011 Census.
This alphabetical list is a work in progress. It is continuously being updated. At the Bottom of this table you will find references to media roundups, a list of lists and actions as they are discovered. Do share!
[Updated Dec.23, 12:28 EST] Thanks to Peter Martino of the Social Planning Council of Toronto Save the Census Campaign who updated the lists and ongoing thank to Compte sur moi ! where many of the pdf letters are posted!
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Organizations & Individuals AGAINST the Government Decision Organizations & Individuals SUPPORTING the Government Decision - Alberta Health Services, CEO Dr. Stephen Duckett
- Alberta Professional Planners Institute
- Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services
- Alliance canadienne des personnes retraitées
- Algonquins of Pikwakanagan Family Health Team
- Ancestry.ca
- Anglican Church of Canada / Église anglicane du Canada
- Anne Johnston Health Station
- Association des statisticiennes et statisticiens du Québec
- Association du Barreau canadien / The Bar Associate of Canada
- Association of Canadian Economist / Association canadienne des économistes
- Association des Soeurs du Canada
- Association feminine d’education et d’action sociale
- Association canadienne francaise pour avancement de science (ACFAS)
- Association féminine d’éducation et d’action sociale (AFEAS)
- Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas)
- Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA)
- Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives (ACMLA) / Association des cartothèques et des archives cartographiques du Canada
- Association of Educational Researchers of Ontario
- Association of Municipalities of Ontario / Association des municipalités de l’Ontario
- Association ontarienne des chercheurs et chercheuses en éducation au ministre Clement (AERO)
- Association of Ontario Health Centres
- Association of Public Health Epidemiologists in Ontario (APHEO) / Association ontarienne d’épidémiologie et desanté publique
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada /
Association des universités et collèges du Canada - Atlantic Provinces Economics Council / Conseil économique de province de l’atlantique
- Atlantic Association of Planning Technicians
- Atlantic Provinces Library Association
- Larry Bagnell, MP Yukon
- Barrie Community Health Centre
- Black Centre for Youth Resources (The Youth Centre)
- BC Library Association
- BC Chamber of Commerce
- BC Government Employee Union (BCGEU)
- Black Creek Community Health Centre
- BC Council for Families
- BC Non Profit Housing Association
- BC Government and Service Employees’ Union
- Bloc Québécois
- Brock Community Health Centre
- Bridges Community Health Centre
- Burlington Chamber of Commerce
- Burnaby Family Life
- C.D. Howe Institute
- Caledon Institute of Social Policy / Institut Caledon des Politiques Sociales
- Calgary Herald (Editorial)
- Calgary and Red Deer City Planners
- Canada Census Committee
- Canadian Arab Federation
- Canadian Association of Professional Employees
- Canadian Bar Association
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) / Centre canadien pour des politiques alternatives
- Canada West Foundation
- Canada Without Poverty Advocacy Network
- Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) / Alliance canadienne des étudiants (CASA)
- Canadian Anthropology Society / Société canadienne d’anthropologie (CASCA)
- Canadian Association for Business Economics (CABE) / Association canadienne des économistes d’affaire
- Canadian Association of Geographers / Association canadienne des géographes
- Canadian Association of Journalists / Association canadienne de journalisme
- Canadian Association of Midwifes (CAM)
- Canadian Association of Public Data Users (CAPDU) / Association canadienne des usagers de données publiques
- Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) / Association canadienne des librairies de recherche
- Canadian Association of Retired People (CARP)
- Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
- Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) / Association canadienne des professeurs d’université
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce
- Canadian Conference of the Arts
- Canadian Council on Social Development / Conseil canadien du développement social
- Canadian Council for Refugees
- Canadian Catholic Council of Bishops & here
- Canadian Economics Association
- Canadian Evaluation Society / Association canadienne d’évaluation
- Canadian Federation of Demographers / Association canadienne des démographes
- Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences / Fédération canadienne des sciences humaines et sociales
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business / Fédération canadienne des entreprises indépendante
- Canadian Federation of Students
- Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association
- Elizabeth Hanson, Yukon NDP Leader
- Canadian Historical Association / Société historique du Canada
- Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
- Canadian Institute of Actuaries / l’Association canadienne des actuaires
- Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers
- Canadian Institute of Planners / Fédération canadienne des urbanistes & Statement by Marni Cappe
- Canadian Index of Wellbeing
- Canadian Islamic Congress
- Canadian Jewish Congress / Congrès Juif Canadien
- Canadian Labour Congress / Congrès canadien des travailleurs
- Canadian Library Association
- Canadian Marketing Association / Association canadienne de marketing
- Canadian Medical Association Journal
- Canadian Medical Association
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Canadian Network of Metropolis Centers / Réseau canadien des centres Metropolis
- Canadian Nurses Association / Société des infirmières du Canada
- Canadian Population Society / Association canadienne de population
- Canadian Public Health Association / Association canadienne de santé publique
- Canadian Research Data Network Centre / Réseau des centres de données de recherche
- Canadian School Board Association
- Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CSEB) / Société canadienne d’épidémiologie et de statistiques
- Canadian Sociology Association / Association canadienne de Sociologie
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) / Syndicat Canadien de Fonction Publique (SCFP)
- Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)
- Canadian Urban Institute / Association canadienne de développement urbain
- Canadian Women’s Foundation
- Capital Regional District (in B.C.)
- Mel Cappe, former Clerk of the Privy Council
- Carleton University Graduate Student Association (GSA)
- Carleton University Undergraduate Student Association (CUSA)
- Carefirst Famil Health Team
- Carleton University Academic Staff Association (CUASA)
- Carlington Community Health Centre
- Catholic Civil Rights League
- Catholic Women’s League of Canada
- Central Toronto Community Health Centres
- Centre francophone de Toronto
- Centre for Study of Living Standards / Centre de recherche pour niveau de vie
- Centre interuniversitaire québécois des statistiques sociales / CIQSS-QICSS / Quebec Inter-University Centre for Social Statistics
- Centre de santé communautaire de Kapuskasing et région
- Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie
- Centre de santé communautaire de Sudbury-Est
- Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury
- Centre de santé communautaire du Temiskaming
- Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara
- Centretown Community Health Centre
- Chinese Canadian National Council
- Childcare Resource and Research Unit
- Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
- Cities Centre – University of Toronto Research Institute
- Cityspaces Consulting Ltd.
- Citizens Engaging Democracy, Newmarket-Aurora
- City of Burnaby
- City of Brampton
- City of Calgary
- City of Charlottetown
- City of Cornwall
- City of Dieppe
- City of Edmonton
- City of Fernie
- City of Fredericton
- City of Greater Sudbury
- City of Hamilton
- City of Kelowna
- City of Kitchener
- City of Kitimat
- City of Lac Mégantic
- City of Langley
- City of Laval
- City of Mississauga
- City of Moose Jaw
- City of Montreal
- City of North Vancouver, and Minutes
- City of Merritt
- City of Mississauga
- City of Montreal
- City of Mount Pearl
- City of New Westminster
- City of Ottawa
- City of Owen Sound
- City of Penticton
- City of Pitt Meadows
- City of Port Colborne
- City of Prince George
- City of Red Deer
- City of Richmond Hill
- City of Sault Ste. Marie
- City of Spruce Grove
- City of Surrey
- City of St. Albert
- City of St. Catharines
- City of Toronto, and other info.
- City of Vancouver
- City of Vernon
- City of Victoria
- Coalistion Québécoise pour l’avenir du recensement
- Collectif de bibliothécaires du Québec (Jo-Ann Belair, Annie Bérubé, Stéfano Biondo, Joë Bouchard,Chantal Beauregard, Pierre Carrier, Pierre Chicoine, Nancy Drolet, Alain Gendron, Catherine Jalbert, Guy Julien, Christian Lacroix, Dominique Lapierre, Marie-Denise Lavoie, Louise Leblanc, Sonia Léger, Véronique Paré, Normand Pelletier, Marcel Plourde, Gaston Quirion, Rose-Marie Racine-April et Chantal St-Louis)
- Concordia University Student’s Associations
- Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada / Fédération Canadienne des Coopératives de Logement
- Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies
- Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
- Commissariat aux langues officielles
- Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (82 Cities)
- Community and Primary Health Care – Lanark, Leeds & Grenville
- Community Development Halton (Ontario)
- Community Development Council Durham
- Community Foundations of Canada
- Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria
- Confédération des associations étudiantes de l’Université Laval (CADEUL)
- Conseil consultatif sur la condition de femme du Nouveau-Brunswick
- Concordia Student Union
- Conference Board of Canada
- Conference des Lecteurs et Principaux des University de Quebec / Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (Association of Universities in Quebec)
- Conférence régionale des élus (CRÉ) de Laval
- Conseil permanent de la jeunesse (CPJ)
- Conseil des agences servant les immigrants
- Conseil Québécois des Coopératives et des Municipalités
- Conservative MP James Rajotte
- Cornwall Agape Centre
- Country Roads Community Health Centre
- Daily Bread Food Bank (Toronto)
- Davenport Perth Community Health Centre
- Delhi Family Health Team
- Département de démographie of Université de Montréal
- Ruby Dhalla, MP
- Dilico Family Health Team
- District of Kent
- District of Nipissing Social Service Admin Board
- District of Maple Ridge
- Doctors Nova Scotia
- Don Drummond; former chief economist of TD bank, former ADM of Finance
- East End Community Health Centre
- East Wellington Family Health Team
- Economic Development Association of British Columbia (EDABC)
- Edmonton Journal, Editorial
- Elgin County
- Équipe de santé familiale communautaire de l’Est d’Ottawa
- Evangelical Fellowship of Canada / Alliance Évangélique du Canada
- Environics Analytics
- Fair Share Peel
- Family Service Association of Toronto
- Research, Evaluation and Planning
Family Service Toronto - Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC
- Fédération canadienne de démographie
- Fédération des associations étudiantes du Campus de l’Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM)
- Fédération des chambres de commerce du Quebec
- Féderation des Communautés Francophones et Acadiennes du Canada (FCFA)
- Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
- Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ)
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities / Fédération canadienne des municipalités (Letter)
- Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ)
- Fédération Québécoise des Professeurs et Professeures d’Universités
- Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities
- Federation of University Women – Samantha Spady
- Greg Finnegan, director of the Yukon Bureau of Statistics
- Dr. Robin Fitzgerald, Research Fellow, Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance, Griffith University, Canadian Scholar Downunder
- Flemingdon Health Centre
- Fraser Valley Regional District
- Four Villages Community Health Centre
- Free Education Montreal
- Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU)
- Ivan Fellegi, Former Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada
- Tom Flanagan, University of Calgary
- French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario / commissaire aux services en français de l’Ontario
- Gateway Community Health Centre
- Gizhewaadiziwin Access Centre
- Glendon School of International and Public Policy
- Globe and Mail Editorials
- Stephen Gordon, economist Université Laval
- Government of Nunavut
- Frank Graves, EKOS Research (polling)
- Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre
- Grand River Community Health Centre
- Greater Halifax Partnership
- Greater Victoria Community Indicators Network
- Green Party of Canada / Parti vert du Canada
- Grey County
- Guelph Community Health Centre
- Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Editorial
- Halton, Region of
- Hamilton’s Settlement and Integration Services Organization
- Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction
- Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre
- Hamilton Community Foundation
- Headwaters Communities in Action (HCIA)
- The Hill Times editorial
- Alex Himelfarb, former Clerk of Privy Council
- Imagine Canada
- Information and Communications Technology Council
- Institut de statistiques Quebec / Statistical Institute of Quebec
- Institute for Research on Public Policy
- Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami / Association nationale Inuit (du Canada)
- International Statistical Institute
- International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology (IASSIST)
- Kawartha North Family Health Team
- Kenora Area Health Access Centre
- Kingston Community Health Centre
- Kitchener Downtown Community Health
- Lakeshore Area Multi-Service Project (LAMP)
- Lanark Health and Community Services
- Langs Farm Village Association
- Liberal Party of Canada / Parti Libéral du Canada
- London InterCommunity Health Centre
- Lumina Research Valuation and Advisory Services
- Maclean’s Magazine (Articles)
- Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) / Association de la Recherche et de Intelligence Marketing (ARIM)
- Roger Martin, Rotman School of Management
- Patricia J. Martens PhD, Director, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy; CIHR/PHAC Applied Public Health Chair; Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
- Martin Prosperity Institute
- Mary Berglund Community Health Centre
- JJ McCullough
- McGill’s Post-Graduate Student Society (PGSS)
- Dr. McKeown, Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto
- Kelly McParland (editor of Full Comment, the National Post)
- Medical Health Officers Council of Saskatchewan
- Merrickville District Community Health Centre
- Metcalf Foundation
- Métis National Council (MNC)
- Metropolis British Columbia
- Metro Vancouver (AKA GVRD)
- Metro Vancouver Housing Committee
- Kevin Milligan, economist at University of British Columbia
- Mike Moffatt
- Misiway Milopemahtesewin Community Health Centre
- Municipality ofr Huron East
- David Murakami Wood, Queen’s University
- N’Mninoeyaa Community Health Access Centre
- Nanos Research (polling)
- National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC)
- National Post Editorial
- National Specialty Society for Community Medicine
- National Statistics Council (French Statement) / Association statistique du Canada
- Nature International Editorial
- New Democratic Party of Canada / Nouveau Parti Démocratique du Canada
- New Heights Community Health Centres
- Niagara Falls Community Health Centre
- Noojmowin Teg Health Centre
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
- North Hamilton Community Health Centre
- North Hastings Family Health Team
- North Lambton Community Health Centre
- North West Territories
- North Western Ontario Municipal Association
- NorWest Community Health Centres
- Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre
- Office of the Ombudsmen, City of Toronto
- Official Language Commissioner
- Ontario Chamber of Commerce
- Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
- Ontario Council of University Libraries
- Ontario deputy finance minister Peter Wallace
- Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
- Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (OPNHA)
- Ontario-Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA)
- Ontario Professional Planners Institute
- Ontario Public School Boards Association
- Opportunities Waterloo Region
- Orillia Packet and Times (Editorial)
- Oshawa Community Health Centre
- Dr. Sylvia Ostry, Former Chief Statistician
- Tom Ostler: Manager, Policy and Research, Toronto Planning Dept.
- Ottawa Citizen Editorial
- PARC (Toronto)
- Parkdale Community Health Centre
- Paul Roumeliotis-Eastern Ontario Health Unit
- Peel, Regional Municipality
- Peel Children’s Aid / Aide à l’enfance région de Peel
- Peel Poverty Action Group (PPAG)
- Peel Regions Public School board
- Petawawa Centennial Family Health Team
- Peterborough’s medical officer of health
- Pickard &Law Firm
- Pillar Nonprofit Network
- Pinecrest-Queensway Health & Community Services
- Planned Parenthood of Toronto
- Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries (Cambridge,Ont.)
- Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC)
- Blake Poland, Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
- Port Hope Community Health Centre
- John Pliniussen, Queen’s University
- Portage La Prairie, Municipality
- Poverty Free Halton
- Valerie Preston, director of CERIS research centre on immigration and settlement issues York University
- Prentice Institute at University of Lethbridge
- The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
- Province of Manitoba
- Province of New Brunswick
- Province of Ontario
- Province of Ontario – Office of Francophone Affairs
- Province of Prince Edward Island
- Province of Quebec
- Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
- Quebec Community Groups Network
- Quebec English School Board Association
- Queen’s University
- Queer Ontario
- John Rafferty, MP
- Research Centre on Digital Inclusion / Centre de recherche et d’expérimentation sur l’inclusion numérique (CREIN)
- Regent Park Community Health Centre
- Reg district Central Kootenay
- Region of Durham
- Region of Kootenay
- Region of Mount Waddington
- Region of Waterloo
- Region of York
- Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario
- Regional Health Authority — Central Manitoba Inc.
- Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
- Rexdale Community Health Centre
- Richard Florida, University of Toronto
- Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) / Alliance de la construction résidentielle et civile de l’Ontario
- Roman Catholic bishops
- Royal Society of Canada
- Rural Ontario Institute (ROI)
- Sandwich Community Health Centre
- Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
- St. Joseph’s Health Centre
- St. Stephen’s House
- Saskatchewan School Board Association
- Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU)
- Andrejs Skaburskis, Queen’s University
- Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS)
- Munir A. Sheikh, Former Chief Statistician of Canada
- Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre
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Martin Simard, laboratoire LERGA, Département des sciences humaines et CRDT, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
- Simcoe County
- Andrejs Skaburskis, Queen’s University
- Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo
- Social Planning Council of Ottawa
- Social Planning Council of Sudbury
- Social Planning Network of Ontario
- Social Planning Toronto
- Social Planning Council of Winnipeg
- Social Policy in Ontario
- Société franco-manitobaine
- Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick
- Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area (SDC)
- Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick
- Société franco-manitobaine
- Somerset West Community Health Centre
- South Riverdale Community Health Centre
- South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community
- Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre
- SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC)
- StarPhoenix [Saskatoon ] Editorial
- Statistical Society of Canada
- Statistics Canada Advisory Committee
- Statistics Canada Advisory Committee on Demographic Statistics and Studies / Comité consultatif sur les études et les statistiques démographiques de Statistique Canada
- Statistical Governance Advisory Board (Established by the European Parliament in 2008)
- Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)
- Statistics Society of Canada
- Stonegate Community Health Centre
- Sudbury Star, Editorial
- Surrey Board of Trade (BC)
- Syndicat des employés internationaux unis (SEIU)
- Table régionale des organismes communautaires autonomes en logement de Laval (TROCALL)
- TAIBU Community Health Centre
- Tasha Kheirridin
- Teen Health Centre
- Tilbury District Family Health Team
- Toronto Association for Business Economics
- Toronto Board of Trade
- Toronto Board of Health
- Toronto Immigrant Employment Data Initiative (TIEDI)
- Toronto Public Health / Directeur de santé publique de Toronto
- Toronto Star Editorial
- Toronto Social Research and Data Consortium (30 health, community and multi-service social agencies)
- Toronto Women’s Housing Co-op
- Town of Caledon
- Town of Halton Hills
- Town of Kindersley
- Town of Langley
- Town of Milton
- Town of Oakville
- Town of Penetanguishene
- Town of Smith Falls
- Town of Scucog
- Town of Springwater
- Town of Woolwich
- Transportation Association of Canada / Conseil du transport urbain du Canada
- Ukrainian Canadian Congress / Congrès Canadien Ukrainien
- United Church of Canada
- United Steelworkers
- United Way of Calgary
- United Way of Canada
- United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area
- United Way of Greater Simcoe County
- United Way Toronto
- Université de Toronto
- Union of BC Municipalities
- Urban Public Health Network
- Urban Transportation Council
- Urban Futures
- Vancouver Board of Trade
- Vanier Institute of the Family
- Vaughan Community Health Centre
- Village of Haines Junction
- Volunteer Toronto
- Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
- Waterloo, Region of
- Waterloo Students Planning Advisory
- Wellesley Institute
- West Elgin Community Health Centre
- West Hill Community Services
- West Toronto Support Services
- Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus
- Windsor Family Health Team
- Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
- WoodGreen Community Services
- Woolwich Community Health Centre
- York Community Services
- National Citizens Coalition census
- The Fraser Institute
- Lorne Gunther and Ezra Levant, National Post
- Canadian Taxpayers Federation
- Toronto Sun editorial
- Terence Corcoran, Columnist National Post
- Red Deer MP Earl Dreeshen
- Kenora Mayor, Len Compton
- The Province Newspaper
- Rafe Mair, Columnist
- Mark Warawa, Langley MP
Other Lists:
- pabsta aka Pier-Andre Bouchard St-Amant maintains a fabulous list of ceux qui Appuis au questionnaire long obligatoire
- CAPDU: List of media stories from CIQSS at l’Universite de Montreal
- David Eaves: Save the Census Coalition
- Professional Coalition
- CIQSS-QICSS
- Census Supporters Numerous
- gordbot Mathematicians don’t buy lottery tickets
- The Toronto Star: Full Coverage
- Just a tad more than Mounties, Beavers and Maple Syrup: Letters from and to tony
Other Media Round Ups:
- Compte sur moi!
- Progressive Economics Forum
- The Norther Harrier (Learned blog posts)
- pabsta aka Pier-Andre Bouchard St-Amant
- Canadian Council on Social Development
- CIQSS-QICSS
- Macleans
- Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
- Canadian Social Research Links
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Actions:
- Social Planning Council of Toronto: Save our Census
- 2 PETITIONS TO SAVE STATISTICS CANADA, OUR ECONOMY, AND OUR SOCIETY
- Petition: Keep the Canadian Census Long Form Petition
- Facebook Page: Keep the Canadian Census Long Form
- New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women Take Action et En action; A woman’s View & Le point de vue d’une femme
- Caledon Institute of Social Policy: Stand up for good government, MPs*
- Canadian Council on Social Development: Toolkit
- Community Dispatch: Changes To 2011 Census Threaten Community Data and
- Citizens Engaging Democracy, Newmarket-Aurora
- Vote on the Digital Strategy Submission: Reinstate the Census Long Form
- Letter Writing: Canadian Institute of Planners
- Opinion: Survey
This list was initially compiled by W. T. Stanbury (wstanbury@prodigy.net.mx) and Armine Yalnizyan, Canadian Centre for Policy Analysis and now it expanded as a result of numerous contributors from individuals across the country. I have also merged information from the list of lists above. I get articles from web crawls, #census #statcan #cdnpoli, blogs and what people send.
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Pingback from datalibre.ca · Census Actions on August 17, 2010 at 9:03 am
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Pingback from Mid-week update « CAPDU on August 18, 2010 at 11:28 am
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In Canada there is a polarization on the subject of the mandatory census. People “for ” the census speak of the need for the data and it’s value in formulating smart government policy. People “against” the decision talk of their rights and coercion, and does a group have the right to demand an individual answer questions about their life against their will, under threat of fine and jail.
So what’s more important, the group/state/country/collective or the rights of the individual? Hasn’t this question been played out countless times over the centuries around the world? How was this question settled? I guess it depends which country you live in. Some countries certainly protect the rights of the individual over the right of the group a lot better than others.
If you study sociology or anthropology or philosophy, it is easy to identify these concepts in other populations/countries/ historical periods, but every population and individual is blind to these concepts in their own group. What do you do when the truth of your group conflicts with the truth of an individual?
“StatsCan does great work for Canada.” (Truth for our group/Country/population.)
“I’ll ask the economists, politicians, and government agencies to keep their unwanted, uncomfortable questions off of me.” (Truth for the single mother who feels uncomfortable with the questions the census informs her she must answer, and refuses to answer)Hence this debate, because the existence of people who don’t answer the census questions, or answer them incorrectly, or write “object to question” for the reply poses an inconvenient truth for the group (“us Canadians”).
In fact, if you look at census data from all countries, including Canada, there are a significant number of respondents who mark some answers as “object to question”. Many others answer some questions in obviously incorrect ways which are understood but are not counted (eg. marking Jedi as their religion). It’s not easily known how many people purposely answer incorrectly and have these incorrect answers erroneously counted as accurate by Statistics Canada. Statistical agencies around the world don’t like to talk about this problem, because it skews the data and puts the validity of all their work at risk.
Now that the issue has been politicized, we even have some people who are “for” the mandatory census saying that people who object to the questions don’t really exist. I’d be careful with that line of thought.
Everyone knows the census provides valuable data. No one is saying the data is not. You won’t win the argument by listing the hundreds of groups and organizations who want and need this data, unless you deal with why coercion of individuals to get this data is acceptable in this case.Is the following acceptable?
Single Mother: “I feel uncomfortable with you and your questions. Please stop contacting me and leave me alone. I feel you are harassing me and I’m asking you to please stop. I know my rights.”
StatsCan worker: “We don’t care how you feel, you must answer our questions about your life. I am doing nothing wrong, this is my job. You are the one breaking the law and we can fine you or put you in jail for your behaviour. We will keep contacting you. We will keep coming by your home. We have your name and we have taken a description of you. We want much more information than you have provided and you are being uncooperative. There is nothing you can do about this. You are wrong and you do not have any rights in this situation.” (Truth for the statscan worker who has a quota to reach, and is dealing with uncooperative, unhelpful, anti-government people who are purposely not answering these mandatory census questions properly.)
The standard in the western world for data collection from individuals is informed consent, (with the one and only exception of the mandatory census). Maybe it’s time to look at this issue and have a real debate about the issues.
This really long list of the people and groups who use and need this data and support the mandatory census is also a list of people who are for coercion and don’t believe in informed consent.
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Oops… Region of Waterloo is listed twice.
275. Region of Waterloo
and 337. Waterloo, Region of
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