news
Happy Census Day?
Every five years, Canadians are required to disclose their information to the Federal Government. Lucky citizens are thrilled to fill out an eight-question form and the less fortunate among us must spend a bit more time at answering 53 questions. Many of us have received the questionnaire in the mail and others will have found a letter in the mailbox asking them to fill in the blanks online.
We’ve been bombarded with Census ads because StatsCan spent $13 million on the public campaign. What’s more shocking is the news that StatsCan has a contract with Lockheed Martin Canada and IBM Canada and Transcontinental Printing Canada to provide them with hardware, software, and printing services for the Census. Yes, an American company has been chosen to take care of the Canadian Census. Yes, Lockheed Martin is a corporation that endorses war, produces weapons of mass destruction for the U.S. Department of Defence, and makes big bucks off the war in Iraq. An in-depth report of Lockheed Martin’s evil doings can be found here.
StatsCan did assure us that the disclosed information will be kept confidential and that Lockheed Martin will have no access to the Census information. Regardless, past examples instill fear that private Census info will be made public:
“The Washington Times has reported that 5 million records from the 1990 U.S. Census were used by NASA as part of a study to test terrorist screening, without the knowledge of U.S. citizens and despite assurances from the U.S. Census bureau that the data was safe.”
“Wired reported that Lockheed Martin was one of four government contractors that received confidential passenger records from American Airlines. American Airlines had initially claimed that no information was turned over to Lockheed and the companies. Lockheed Martin and the other three contractors were hired to test computer algorithms as part of the CAPPS II terrorist screening program.”
Our favourite Census question was: “Does this person agree to make his/her 2006 Census information available for public release in 2098 (92 years after the Census)?” Although having answered “Yes”, we’ll certainly be leaping out of graves in 2098 to stir up a commotion. The question should have been rephrased as “Does this person agree to make his/her 2006 Census information available for immediate public release?”
We found an amusing photo on Flickr that we thought you’d enjoy.
Aside from the Lockheed Martin issue, there has been some backlash from the gay-rights group, Egale Canada. The Census has neglected to acknowledge same-sex couples in the question concerning marriage. “The Census form instructs same-sex couples who are married to check the ‘Other’ category at the bottom of the list of relationships, rather than checking the top box marked ‘Husband or Wife’”. Egale Canada suggests that you sign a petition and email the Prime Minister to take a stance on equality in Canada.
The City of Toronto condones the Census, reporting that “accurate statistics are important to determine the needs of the various communities in the city. This information has a direct impact on the public services that will be provided in those areas (services such as health care, education, day care, and transportation).”
If you haven’t received the survey as yet and would like would like to be included in the Census, contact Statistics Canada at 1-866-431-6600. Alternately, call the Census Help Line at 1-877-594-2006 for assistance in any of 46 languages (hopefully without getting assistance in all of 46 languages in one phone call). What will happen to you if you provide incorrect information or fail to fill out the questionnaire? The Census Stickler will come knocking on your door and demand that you pay a $500 fine and/or send you to jail for three months. If you choose not to comply with the Census, visit the Boycott the 2006 Canadian Census webpage.