OTTAWA – Following the shocking resignation by the head of Canada’s world-renowned statistics agency, the Liberal Party is seeking documentation on what advice the Conservatives received before deciding to axe the long-form census.
 
“Munir Sheikh was forced to resign on a matter of principle,” said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale. “The government has triggered complete chaos in Canada’s esteemed data-gathering agency which, pre-Harper, had been the envy of the world for its accuracy and integrity. Who would now want to become “Chief Statistics Puppet” to a government that simply doesn’t believe in fact-based decision-making and would rather rely on mindless ideology and pathological political biases?

“This isn’t about big brother invading the bedrooms of the nation, as the Conservatives would have you believe. It’s about Conservatives dumbing down the integrity of Canadian statistics and threatening the basic services that Canadians rely on, like hospitals, public transit and schools.”

Liberals are asking the government to proactively release all advice given to them by Statistics Canada so Canadians can see their rationale for this decision. In the event the Conservatives refuse to comply, the Liberal Party also filed an Access to Information request today for all correspondence, emails, briefing notes, backgrounders, presentations, fact sheets, memoranda and records of meetings where the issue was discussed.  When the Industry Committee reconvenes this summer – as requested by Liberal MPs – Liberal members will request this documentation.
 
“Why would the Conservatives want all Canadians to make less-informed decisions?” asked Mr. Goodale. “What advice did they receive and ignore before moving ahead on this, without an iota of public consultation?  Provinces, municipalities, health care providers, social services, and business organizations all oppose this decision.”
 
Liberals also made public a list of witnesses that they are planning to call to committee, including Munir Sheikh, who resigned in principle as Canada’s Chief Statistician after his scheduled town hall with StatsCan employees to discuss the census issue was cancelled.  This comes after StatsCan sources denied Minister Tony Clement’s claim that they recommended axing the long-form census.

“Let’s be clear: this is a thinly veiled attack on the most vulnerable Canadians and on the ability to help them with progressive programs and services,” said Mr. Goodale.  “This decision harms the provision of emergency services, health care, jobless benefits, schools, services for seniors and new Canadians, transportation, job training centers, and so much more.

“Once again, we all lose when Stephen Harper puts his narrow partisan interests above those of all Canadians,” Mr. Goodale concluded.