Statistics Canada Revamps Census Ad Campaign To Play Down Legal Requirements

I don't care who visits me, I won't fill out a Stats Can census that has not been 100% designed, produced and distributed by stats can employees who will then process it using software designed and written by stats can employees on hardware purchased and installed by stats can employees. If any foreign company has anything to do with the survey I won't fill it out. If the government wants info from me they can meet my criteria or data mine their databases for it.

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"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
(Albert Einstein)

Yes!!

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RickW

We received the census forms this afternoon from a very nice lady.

I just had a quick look through the questions and having been through censuses in 4 countries, my wife in 5, in Canada since 1955, we can honestly say that we've never seen a bigger heap of garbage in our lives. This is not a census, but some corporation asking hundreds of invasive questions for marketing purposes.

We won't reject the whole thing, but have suddenly become a couple of uneducated, illiterate bums, without any schooling, or trade qualifications, just barely surviving.

Do these idiots really expect all, or even most people to fill in some 20 pages of the most inane, complicated pile of nonsense that has absolutely nothing to do with any legitimate census? Then on top of it, the agricultural census, which is even worse.

Ed Deak, Big Lake, BC.

20 pages?, you must be joking Ed. I sure won't be filling out 20 pages, but I'm looking forward to their visit. Should be lively.

In reply to your comment Milton, I'm sorry to say I don't think you will ever again see the work done by Stats. Canada employees. This is the worst aspect of this outsourcing, once it's done it's hard to change, much easier to renew a contract than to go through the whole tendering process again. The federal government has for years been on the path of contracting out as much work as possible, especially IT work, and not always to Canadian companies. I stressed my objections to this outsourcing when I complained to Stats. Canada about the census. I used to be very proud of the reputation of the work Stats. Can. produced, now they've lost some of that respect. Another piece of Canada given away.
One good piece of news, I hear Ontario has taken back control of the last prison which was privatized under the Harris government although I don't know the details.

Frank

We may have received the long form, 1 out of 5 households, which is 20 double pages, total 40, for several members of a family.

I read throught them closer this morning. Bloody outrageous invasion of elementary privacy with the most complicated calculations one is supposed to come up with on working hours, family backgrounds, educational levels. etc.

I'm going over to our partners after I finish my chores to see what they received, if any different from ours. I intend to fill in the bare minimum, with pencil dots, as opposed to the demanded X with pens.

Ed Deak.

<p>I agree with you 100%, Milton. <p>I recently discovered this site while trying to find other opinions that backed my anti-census attitude. I was completely unaware of the LM controversy until I saw this site. This debacle has served to only enrage me further. <p>Aside from the horrific privacy implications of allowing a foreign company to have any part in our census, I wish to state my own opinions about why it should be boycotted (I've come up with these on my own, so forgive me if anyone else has made a similar post): <p>1.According to the StatsCan website, “The census is more than a population count; it provides all levels of government, business, industry, media, academia and independent organizations with social, economic and demographic information that is essential for making decisions regarding the many services each provides to the public”. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I interpret this as meaning that the census is taxpayer-subsidized market research. I don't need my answers to a census fueling the endless piles of junk mail filling my mail box, nor do I want left-wing or right-wing special interest groups using the information as justification for their causes. Make them pay for their own market research. <p>2.StatsCan also states “Businesses and governments use census data extensively when developing plans and policies”. How many people are happy with recent government plans and policies? I believe that plans and policies should be developed from information gathered by our MPs and other elected officials. Isn't that what we pay them for? I don't believe a statistical snapshot of what I had for breakfast accurately covers my beliefs or desires. <p>I'm not opposed to the government having information about where the population lives, what they earn (they already know via Revenue Canada anyway) and how old they are, but anything else, in my opinion, is simply invasion of privacy. What the law says is irrelevant; the government does not have the right to know anything it wants to about me. And it won't. <p>I have a camera at my front door that I can monitor from my computer (I'm not a nut, I just can't hear the pizza guy when he shows up). Rest assured I won't be answering it any time before or after May 16th.

I brought home the form our friends received. It is 2 pages with a few simple questions. So, I answered the same questions on our long, 20 page form with a pencil dot and left the rest unanswered. I won't send it till the deadline of May 15. so they'll get a flood all at once.

The following are from the long form we received and will send back 90% unanswered, as this is not a census, but a disgusting invasion of privacy.

E.g. #7 Does this person have any DIFFICULTY hearing, seeing, communicating, walking, climbing stairs, bending, learning or doing similar activities?

14. What language does this person speak MOST OFTEN at home

16. What is the language that this person FIRST LEARNED at home IN CHILDHOOD and STILL UNDERSTANDS? (Their italics)

17. What were the ethnic or cultural origins of this person's ANCESTORS?

19. Is this person White, Chinese, South Asian, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Southeast Asian, Arab, West Asian, Korean, Japanese, other-

23. Where did this person live 1 YEAR ago, that is on MAY 16, 2005 ?

24. The same question 5 years ago ?

25. Where was EACH OF this person's parents born?

The educational questions go on for 2 pages.

33. LAST WEEK, how many hours did this person spend doing the following activities : A. doing UNPAID housework, yard work or home maintenance for members of this household, or others ? This goes on and on.

The job related questions go on for pages, about being laid off, looking for work, employers, how did the person go to work, walking, bicycle, etc. What languages used on the job?

52. PAID EMPLOYMENT : Total WAGES and SALARIES, including commissions, bonuses, tips, taxable benefits, research grants, royalties, etc. before any deductions?

SELF EMPLOYMENT: Net farm income, Net non farm income,
INCOME FROM GOVERNMENT: OAP, Benefits form CANADA or QUEBEC PENSION PLAN. Benefits from EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

Plus one more whole page of income questions, income tax paid, etc.

STEP F. H 1. WHO PAYS THE RENT OR MORTGAGE, TAXES, ELECTRICITY, FOR THIS DWELLING?

H2. HOW MANY ROOMS ARE THERE IN THIS DWELLING ? INCLUDE kitchen, bedrooms, finished rooms in attic, or basement etc.
DO NOT COUNT bathrooms, halls, vestibules, and room used solely for business purposes.

H5. IS THIS DWELLING IN NEED OF ANY REPAIRS? No/ minor / major ?

H6 FOR THIS DWELLING WHAT ARE THE YEARLY PAYMENTS (THE LAST 12 MONTHS) FOR: Electricity, oil, gas wood or other fuels.

plus plus more finacial questions on the dwelling.

This garbage may be acceptable to our individualist neocons, to please the corporate owners of the government, but not to me.

Ed Deak.