Eganville, Ontario… Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is pleased to confirm her support for the recently announced Government policy change to respect the individual choice of citizens when it comes to the collection of personal information for the Canadian Census. It will no longer be mandatory for individuals to complete the “long” survey. Participation will be voluntary. Those who do not wish to do so will no longer be legally forced to participate.
“This is a big change from the old government belief that people should be forced to do something they do not want to do,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP. “What many Canadians who are opposed to the liberal long gun registry really dislike is the form they must complete that is filled with too many questions that are unrelated to owning and enjoying the use of a firearm. There was never an explanation of why all the intrusive questions, just a legal threat if they failed to do so. For some people that assumption of guilt is what they see when they are forced to complete the long census survey form.”
“What our government has done is remove the coercive aspect of the Canadian census,” said Gallant, MP. “Canadians are smart. They know how important the census is when it comes to measuring government programs and activity. I reject the claim by the Opposition that those randomly selected to complete the census will no longer do so if they are not forced to participate. Perhaps if government cannot properly explain why it is asking certain questions, it should not be asking them.”
Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada and the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill. In Canada, providing statistics is a federal responsibility. As Canada’s central statistical agency, Statistics Canada is legislated to serve this function for the whole of Canada and each of the provinces and territories. In addition to conducting a Census every five years, there are about 350 active surveys on virtually all aspects of Canadian life.
“In the past, the old government felt it was not necessary to explain why it was asking certain questions of individuals, let alone seek their permission to do so,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP. “Our government clearly does not support that approach. In a democratic society, we respect the right of individuals to ask for privacy. I am pleased to be a member of a government that puts the rights of individuals and families first,” concluded MP Cheryl Gallant.
