Census 2010

[Topaz]

The former head of Statistics Canada, says if he hadn't retire in 2008, he would have to in 2010 because of what he Tories are doing with the census. The are shortening it but its all voluntary. It cost 30 million to change it and how many Canadians are going to fill it out and send it back, if its voluntary? Not me. Thoughts? http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100630/national/tories_census_scrubbed

[Bryan]

I like the change.

it was based on the fact that many Canadians had complained of the coercive and intrusive nature of the census

Which is exactly how I felt about the census. The long form usually is loaded with "none-of-your-business" questions, so it SHOULD be voluntary, and the short form contains questions they already have the answers to on my tax form, so it's just redundant.

[Bonam]

The former head of Statistics Canada, says if he hadn't retire in 2008, he would have to in 2010 because of what he Tories are doing with the census. The are shortening it but its all voluntary. It cost 30 million to change it and how many Canadians are going to fill it out and send it back, if its voluntary? Not me. Thoughts? http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100630/national/tories_census_scrubbed

I think you misunderstand the changes. The very article you linked specifically states:

There will be no change to the mandatory short census form.

That is, the mandatory short census form will remain mandatory. This is as it should be, the short form is all that is needed to conduct a basic census of the population. The long form asks many detailed questions and people should have the option of not having to provide that much personal information.

[Borg]

There is always a way around government interference into private lives - just be sneakier than they are

Borg

[Remiel]

I think it is somewhat ironic, if also somewhat understandable, that conservatives who when it comes to law enforcement always claim they have " nothing to hide " suddenly get antsy when asked to fill out a simple census form.

Data mining firms probably already get a whiff of the same answers Canadians are asked to give on the census, so privacy concerns over sensitive topics are not as persuasive as they may have been in the pre-Information Age, when the census was the only way to get that sort of data.

Anyone who complains that the government is always wasting money should at least think twice about not having a mandatory form. At the end of the day, it is a policy informing instrument.

[margrace]

I think it is somewhat ironic, if also somewhat understandable, that conservatives who when it comes to law enforcement always claim they have " nothing to hide " suddenly get antsy when asked to fill out a simple census form.

Data mining firms probably already get a whiff of the same answers Canadians are asked to give on the census, so privacy concerns over sensitive topics are not as persuasive as they may have been in the pre-Information Age, when the census was the only way to get that sort of data.

Anyone who complains that the government is always wasting money should at least think twice about not having a mandatory form. At the end of the day, it is a policy informing instrument.

Remeber the fight when the liberal gov't wanted to destroy the 1911 census information. It was the historians and genealogists who fought it and won. I know a lot of people think it is a waste of time but there are a lot of us who use these census to find out who we are and how we got here. Genealogy is one of the biggest hobbies in Canada. Harper should remember that we vote too.

[scribblet]

There is a lawsuit still going on from the last census re: privacy, people were fighting it then for the same reasons they don't want it now.

[Aleksandar Maksimovic]

Well change would be good, but look at USA.

It was YES WE CAN.

Now it's Yea.. we could?

But as 2pac said, ''Change, shit... I guess it's good for all of us.''

[David Thompson]

I know a lot of people think it is a waste of time but there are a lot of us who use these census to find out who we are and how we got here. Genealogy is one of the biggest hobbies in Canada. Harper should remember that we vote too.

Yes, good. While we're taking away rights for the sake of hobbies, can we make it illegal for anyone to damage a Wayne Gretzky hockey card?

[Alta4ever]

Canadians are going to fill it out and send it back, if its voluntary? Not me. Thoughts? http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100630/national/tories_census_scrubbed

So if the government doesn't tell you to do it you won't? Its a wonder you are breathing no one from the government is telling you to.

[CANADIEN]

Yes, good. While we're taking away rights for the sake of hobbies, can we make it illegal for anyone to damage a Wayne Gretzky hockey card?

Except for one thing.... Despite the hysteria from some of the right, nobody's right is being violated by the requirement to fill a census form.

[Bryan]

nobody's right is being violated by the requirement to fill a census form.

Of course it is.

[Smallc]

Of course it is.

No, it isn't. People don't have a right to privacy when it comes to the state.

Edited August 30, 2010 by Smallc

[CANADIEN]

Of course it is.

Boohoohoo...the big bad State is violating my rights by asking me to fill a census form. Never mind that the advantage (to society in whole and each citisen in particular) that arises from this data gathering esercise far outweights any disadvantage or inconvenience resulting from it.

[CANADIEN]

No, it isn't. People don't have a right to privacy.

Actually, there is a certain right toi privacy. That right is not so absolute that it preclude the gathering of information when it is justified. The benefit arising from gathering data useful to inform public policy making and hold our government acountable far outweights any alleged ill effect from the exercise.

[Smallc]

Actually, there is a certain right toi privacy.

Yes, I qualified that somewhat. If we are compelled to provide information by the state, we don't really have the ability to refuse.

[Bryan]

Boohoohoo...the big bad State is violating my rights by asking me to fill a census form. Never mind that the advantage (to society in whole and each citisen in particular) that arises from this data gathering esercise far outweights any disadvantage or inconvenience resulting from it.

I've yet to see any argument that even comes close to showing the great advantage society gets from knowing most of the info that is on the long form. What vital role were the 21,000 Canadians who claimed to be Jedi Knights fulfilling?

[Jerry J. Fortin]

There is law in place to address the issue. The real question we should be considering is the basis for the existing law, which is our own constitution. This is where it all stems from, warts and all.

[CANADIEN]

I've yet to see any argument that even comes close to showing the great advantage society gets from knowing most of the info that is on the long form. What vital role were the 21,000 Canadians who claimed to be Jedi Knights fulfilling?

I forgot. There is no advantage whatsoever in having statistical data on where Canadians live, where they come from, how mobile they are, what level of education they have Government decisions should be based on ideology rather than facts, and Canadians do not need tohave data they can look at to see the effects of government decisions. Ignorance is bliss.

But well, if you shop for motgages, a car, a house the way you expect the government to formulate policy, without the numbers, I will be happy to do business with you any time.

[Bryan]

I forgot. There is no advantage whatsoever in having statistical data on where Canadians live, where they come from, how mobile they are, what level of education they have Government decisions should be based on ideology rather than facts, and Canadians do not need tohave data they can look at to see the effects of government decisions. Ignorance is bliss.

But well, if you shop for motgages, a car, a house the way you expect the government to formulate policy, without the numbers, I will be happy to do business with you any time.

What vital government policy is being formed on the basis of the 21,000 Canadians who claim to be Jedi Knights?

[CANADIEN]

What vital government policy is being formed on the basis of the 21,000 Canadians who claim to be Jedi Knights?

Please, feel free to keep making a fool of your self by harping on what is ultimately nothing more than a statistical glitch on a question (religious affiliation) that is not even asked anymore.

[Bryan]

Please, feel free to keep making a fool of your self by harping on what is ultimately nothing more than a statistical glitch on a question (religious affiliation) that is not even asked anymore.

The fool is anyone who believes that the long form contains information that is required to set public policy. Thankfully, the government is smarter than you are.

[Smallc]

Thankfully, the government is smarter than you are.

Apparently, they're also smarter than every statistician, economist, and public policy director in the country, too.

[CANADIEN]

Apparently, they're also smarter than every statistician, economist, and public policy director in the country, too.

On the contrary, the Government is very smart. The information is so useless they'll keep asking it, but in such a way that the data will be unreliable, and it will cost more money to do it.

But hey, the government is smarted then most everybody who knows about the importance of indormation. But wait a minute, isn't the government a bad thing to start with?

[Bryan]

Apparently, they're also smarter than every statistician, economist, and public policy director in the country, too.

So far they have been.