The fight to save the Census continues as CCSD et al vs The Government of Canada will be heard in the Federal Court on November 23, 2011 at 09:30AM.  CCSD and 12 other partners are fighting for Canada’s equal right to be counted in the Mandatory Short Form, the only mandatory tool left in the group of census surveys that reaches every Canadian.

The Short form (little more than a head count) only asks 10 questions of Canadians,  none of which determines one’s ethnicity and cultural heritage, aboriginal status or disability. The exclusion of the important groups of Canadians is a clear breach of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Gaps in data of this measure will ensure that decision makers at every level, will not have the necessary information to serve these important groups of Canadians. Perhaps that’s the point, is this marginalization by design?

We deserve better, these groups of Canadians deserver better, join us in this important moment in Canadian history.

If you would like more information or want to get involved, contact our President, Peggy Taillon at taillon@ccsd.ca.

Make a donation to the data defence fund and become of a member of CCSD.

Partners in the challenge include:

SOCIAL PLANNING TORONTO,
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HALTON,
SOCIAL PLANNING COUNCIL OF WINNIPEG
CANADIAN ARAB FEDERATION,
ONTARIO COUNCIL OF AGENCIES SERVING IMMIGRANTS,
COUNCIL OF AGENCIES SERVING SOUTH ASIANS,
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION TORONTO,
AFRICAN CANADIAN LEGAL CLINIC,
NATIONAL ABORIGINAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION,
SOUTH ASIAN LEGAL CLINIC OF ONTARIO,
AFRICAN CANADIAN LEGAL CLINIC,
METRO TORONTO CHINESE SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEGAL CLINIC