24°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Opposition to fight for long-form census
OTTAWA -- Opposition parties banded together to save the long-gun registry and now they're trying to rescue the mandatory long-form census.
The Liberals submitted details to the House of Commons on Thursday of a private member's bill that would specifically insert the mandatory long-form census into the Statistics Act.
The bill could see first reading in the Commons by Oct. 1, and the opposition hope they can hurry it through second reading and on to committee hearings.
The Bloc Québécois and the NDP said Thursday they would support a bill to resurrect the mandatory long form.
Currently, the act only refers to the requirement to hold a census of the population -- the short census -- every five years. The Liberal bill would also remove the threat of jail time for those who refuse to fill out the long form, but keep the maximum $500 fine.
"It's almost a sacred trust that we have with civil society that we will get them the information they need with which to plan, and whether that's the Bank of Canada, or the public health officials, or the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, people are counting on this information and it must be comparable data with previous censuses," said Liberal Carolyn Bennett, the bill's sponsor.
The Conservative government eliminated the mandatory long-form census in June, citing concerns among some Canadians that the process was intrusive and the threat of jail time unreasonable. They replaced it with a voluntary national survey that would be distributed to more households.
The move set off a wide backlash from a variety of opponents, including religious groups, major charities, the Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities, statisticians and academics. Several provinces and large municipalities also balked, saying the loss of data would skew policymaking.
Former chief statistician Munir Sheikh resigned in the wake of the decision, unable to support the government's contention the survey would adequately substitute for the long-form census.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 24, 2010 A18
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 36 articles for today)
House of Commons adjourns for the summer after bitter spring session
8:50 PM 0OTTAWA - The most bitter spring sitting of parliament since Stephen Harper's Conservatives came to power more than seven years ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- Next! Montreal seeks yet another mayor after second one quits in scandal
- Fast and curious driver caught going 221 km/h loses car, nets double the fine
- More controversy in Montreal: three police officers suspended amid RCMP probe
- Montreal's new mayor in hot water
- Hike in disclosure for public servants should apply to unions too: Liberals
- Harper lauds G8 declaration on Syrian conflict despite lack of consensus
- Ottawa says man was Asian crime gang member and should be kicked out of Canada
- Corruption in Quebec: A blow-by-blow account
- Edmonton police withdraw Amber Alert for nine-month-old; baby found safe
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Montreal's interim mayor, a self-styled corruption fighter, faces fraud charges
- Marois defends turban ban
- Canadian woman, daughter caught smuggling $59,000 in bras, border agents say
- Woman charged after drink tossed at embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
- Questions about Mayor Rob Ford overshadow news of huge police raids
- Trudeau to compensate charities that paid him to help raise money
- Training manuals for Parliament guides boost Senate, praise two-party system
- RCMP confirms it's investigating Nigel Wright payment to Mike Duffy
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Controversy around Toronto mayor Rob Ford continues to grow
- Glover, Bezan fight suspension from Parliament
- Alleged Rob Ford drug video 'gone,' source tells Gawker
- Gawker hits $200K for 'crack cocaine' video as mayor's senior aides resign
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- 'I am not stepping aside,' Mayor Rob Ford says, as 'crack video' scandal rages
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- Fast and curious driver caught going 221 km/h loses car, nets double the fine
- Alberta judge calls killing of sleeping five-year-old 'domestic terrorism'
- Force used on protester reasonable: cop's lawyer
- Harper lauds G8 declaration on Syrian conflict despite lack of consensus
- Next! Montreal seeks yet another mayor after second one quits in scandal
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- B.C. is 'in the risk zone' for mega-earthquake along the coast: study
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Feds want to extend blanket of permanent secrecy over 11 new agencies
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Squirrel takes whirl in toilet; woman rescues rodent with barbecue tongs
- Wendy's 9-patty burger extinct
- Training manuals for Parliament guides boost Senate, praise two-party system
- Western premiers discuss bullies; say topic will be part of all-premiers meeting
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Glover, Bezan fight suspension from Parliament
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Banff officials hunt for cougar that man fought off with skateboard
- Harper government brings in new performance review system for public service
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- Up to one of every three members of new tribunal gave money to Conservatives
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.