HARPER’S CENSUS FIASCO WILL HURT LABRADOR

LABRADOR, July 26, 2010 — Labrador M.P. Todd Russell today expressed serious concerns about the Conservative government’s decision to scrap the existing “long-form” census which has existed for many years.

“Federal, provincial, and municipal governments, health bodies, Aboriginal organizations, and many others, rely on accurate census data in order to make sound decisions,” Russell said. “Governments and other organizations need reliable information about the make-up of our communities here in Labrador, but Harper’s decision to scrap the existing census format will greatly diminish the reliability of the numbers.”

Russell says that a wide variety of legislation and policy relies on accurate census data. They include housing, health, seniors’ and Aboriginal programs, programs for linguistic minorities such as the francophone community in Labrador, the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act which benefits municipalities where there are federal government buildings, and even payments made under the Atlantic Accord.

“Virtually every organization in this country that relies on statistics has come out against this decision,” Russell said. “The Canadian Federation of Municipalities, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne, among many others, have urged the Conservatives to change course, but they stubbornly refuse.”

“The Conservatives’ attack on the census is an attack on reality. The facts get in the way of their right-wing agenda, so they want to stop Canadians from getting facts. It’s that simple”

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Todd Russell, MP

Labrador

(613) 996-4630

Liberals are demanding that the Parliamentary Industry, Science and Technology Committee reconvene to call Industry Minister Tony Clement  on carpet for scrapping the mandatory long census.

“Scrapping the long census is a thinly veiled attack on the most vulnerable Canadians, and the federal government’s ability to deliver progressive programs that help them,” said Liberal Industry, Science and Technology Critic Marc Garneau. “We need to hear from Minister Clement and concerned organizations on an urgent basis so we can take steps to keep the census intact.”

The Liberal Party has already called for an amendment to the Statistics Act to ensure the comprehensive, mandatory long census stays.

Jobless Canadians, women, Aboriginals, visible minorities, the disabled, and francophone minority communities will be among those harmed by the government’s snap decision.  

“The Conservatives want to undermine the government’s ability to enforce legislation and deliver social programs aimed at our most vulnerable,” said Mr. Garneau, citing pay equity, labour market development, and immigration settlement programs as examples.

The government’s snap decision to scrap the long census has been widely condemned by dozens of media outlets and organizations, including business groups, economists, Aboriginal leaders, francophone groups and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Canada’s Official Languages Commissioner launched an investigation into the decision, citing the government’s legal obligations and the reliance of francophone minority communities across Canada on census information.

“Liberals object to the fact that this decision was made without consultation, just after the House of Commons rose for the summer,” said Mr. Garneau. “This secretive, manipulative move was made to avoid all scrutiny, and shows no respect to the institution of Parliament.  Well, Stephen Harper is not going to get away with it.”

The Conservatives will have to spend an additional $30 million to send out voluntary forms than if they had kept the long form, spending more money for less useful information.   

“Filling out the census is a civic duty, and our privacy is fully protected,” concluded Mr. Garneau.  “The information collected supports programs that help our fellow citizens.”