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The problem with that, as Munir Shiekh's resignation demonstrates, is that a sample of volunteers would not validly represent all Canadians. See here: http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=16773&view=findpost&p=563621 http://www.thestar.com/article/838589--travers-forget-the-beaver-dumber-canada-needs-the-ostrich Expertise, the prime minister once publicly reminded his party, is as suspect as elites. Intuition and the nodding wisdom of next-door neighbours are to be trusted. Yes ... and the earth is flat.

I oppose any laws about what people can wear on their face. In Japan it is common for people with cold/flu to wear sanitary masks in public, esp on trains. We might be wise to adopt that practice too. http://forums.sgclub.com/singapore/japan_masks_sold_168212.html Sandstorms are another reason some might cover their face. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35959965/ In winter we wear balaclavas and scarves over our faces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaclava_%28clothing%29 When it's really cold, wear a face mask or a scarf over your mouth to warm the air you breathe and protect your face. http://running.about.com/od/safetyweather/tp/coldweathersafety.htm It used to be common for grieving widows to wear a veil, and is still in some cultures. http://fevertreedesign.com/gr/wp-content/plugins/wp-shopping-cart/product_images/veilhat.jpg A bandana soaked in vinegar is desirable for protests where tear gas may be used http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=24684287 Some protesters are packing their bags with vinegar-soaked bandanas, ear plugs and gas masks, getting ready for any police violence they might encounter. And good grief ... what about big sunglasses and hats pulled down low/collars up high - the classic celeb. 'disguise'! http://www.sunglassesoverglasses.com/ Next thing you know, the cops will be measuring your sunglasses to see if they are too big, and high collars and hat brims will be outlawed. Truth is ... this whole kerfuffle about 'veils' is ridiculous and purely racist. You cannot have one law for Muslim women and another for children wearing scarves in winter to prevent frostbite, or people trying to avoid spreading germs. I say ... get over it!

I can't imagine the logistics of setting up such databanks ... boggles the mind. Just thinking about the consent issue is daunting enough: the anti-government/protection of privacy lobbies would have a real field day with that one! I hereby consent to allow (eg) MTO to share this personal information with any level of government that wants it, and any private interests that purchase it. I don't think so! Also ... we'd each have to be issued a single personal ID number so that our own data in all the different databases can be linked. I can see a few obstacles there!

You are right Canadien. Good example. Removing people from the 'population' used to generate the sample can also result in a selection bias. Random sampling from the entire population is very important.

Apparently not one you can understand ... but that's not our problem. This statement by Eaves (previous link) echoes my belief about why Harper wants to destroy the ability to make comparisons with past data and observe trends: some governments prefer not to have information; all that data and evidence gets in the way of legislation and policies that are ineffective, costly and that reward vested interests Harper does not want to be accountable to us. As for StatsCan recouping some costs by selling data to private interests ... that's just a positive byproduct of what needs to be done anyway. Also, because we can access census data, often free, we can hold politicians, media and authors accountable for speculative statements and bad policies.

The interesting thing is that those who choose not to complete the census won't be represented in the data, so both private sector and public sector planning/funding are less likely to address their characteristics, needs and concerns. Libertarians and Harper Conservatives, for example.

I stand corrected.

"millions"? really? David K. Foot is a professor of economics at the University of Toronto, and co-author of the Boom, Bust & Echo books. Who's going to buy this car? Some StatsCan products - like basic demographic info from the census - are available free, it's true. Others, tailored to particular uses, are very costly. (StatsCan does recoup some costs) It depends what you are talking about.

Actually, the proposed voluntary survey is much more costly for much less valid data. I predict that these groups won't be as likely to fill out a voluntary survey: - younger adults and older adults - more recent immigrants - private sector employers and employees - Type A personalities (too busy and impatient) - Libertarians and Reform/Alliance/Conservatives - other groups we can't easily identify Consequently, these types of people will not be well-represented in demographic statistics about Canadians that are used for planning, funding, etc. In other words, it won't be a valid sample of all Canadians as some groups will be selectively absent. Of course ... in some cases that can be a good thing! (jk)

My understanding is that people have been prosecuted and fines levied, but no one has been jailed. I'd be ok with removing the threat of jail and replacing it with community service ... in an agency that relies on census data, for example.

1) What's your industry/interest? 2) Inform yourself. And here's an interesting summary: Why you should care about the sudden demise of the mandatory long census form

I thought this was particularly well said: “I find it a little disturbing that the Industry Minister doesn’t seem to understand that knowledge is essential in the knowledge economy.”

Since the thread op is about Canada's Indian Act, we are talking about Canada.

Why not take a look: * Aboriginal peoples * Agriculture * Business, consumer and property services * Business performance and ownership * Children and youth * Construction * Crime and justice * Culture and leisure * Economic accounts * Education, training and learning * Energy * Environment * Ethnic diversity and immigration * Families, households and housing * Government * Health * Income, pensions, spending and wealth * Information and communications technology * International trade * Labour * Languages * Manufacturing * Population and demography * Prices and price indexes * Reference * Retail and wholesale * Science and technology * Seniors * Society and community * Statistical methods * Transportation * Travel and tourism Here's a gem: In an ironic twist, the Fraser Institute – one of the education system’s fiercest critics and the only public-policy think tank to back the government’s decision to make the long form voluntary – relied on census data in preparing its latest “report card” on Canada’s public schools. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/why-the-census-matters-just-about-everywhere/article1650524/