8/9/2019 NSC Press Release Aug 12 En

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National Statistics Council

News release: Immediate

Victoria, August 12, 2010 The National Statistics Council, the government-appointed advisory body to the Chief Statistician, today welcomed thegovernments decision to eliminate the threat of jail time for those refusing to fillout the census and its recognition of the need to make mandatory the censusquestions involving language.

Removing jail times is consistent with the Councils July 25 statementSeekingSolutions, while the new approach to language use recognizes that the voluntaryNational Household Survey will not meet the requirements for robust andaccurate small-area data that can only be provided through a mandatoryinstrument, the Council said in a statement issued by its chair, Ian McKinnon.The Council stressed the need for such a mandatory instrument.

While the initial census decision was taken without public consultation, theensuing debate and discussion have brought to light facts about the importanceof the long-form census that the government may not have known given theprevious lack of consultation.

The governments announcement now affords an opportunity to take a fresh andrapid look at the issue and reach a shared solution that protects the Canadianstatistical system, ensures privacy, serves the Canadian public better, and reducescosts. The Council would be eager to assist the government in meeting theseimportant short-term goals.

The Council rejected recent suggestions that small-area data users such as publichealth planners, voluntary associations, towns, and transportation plannersshould pay for their own surveys rather than rely on the census; this is notpossible. Private surveys, with their 10%-15% response rates, can be adjustedonly with benchmarking from the long-form census which will no longer beavailable.

Over the next year, the Council recommended that Statistics Canada consultwidely on the need for specific questions in the census and that the governmentamend the Statistics Act to reflect the UN Fundamental Principles of OfficialStatistics, a code to which Canada has already formally adhered. It alsosuggested that Statistics Canada reduce the respondent burden placed on farmers

by the Census of Agriculture.Contact: Ian McKinnon, Chair, National Statistics Council, (250) 812-8184

ian.mckinnon@aya.yale.eduCline Le Bourdais, Chaire de recherche du Canada en Statistiquessociales et changement familial, Universit McGill, (514) 398-6840,celine.lebourdais@mcgill.ca

Statement attached.