At first I found it somewhat amusing that Canadians were getting worked up over the news that the Conservatives scrapped the mandatory long form census in favour of an elective version.
The vitriol and anger spewed at the Harper government for the move was so extreme one could easily have mistaken the news for something important. Like, for instance, the traffic report on the drive home from work.
Some people are so angry that the government isn’t forcing people to answer intrusive survey questions on pain of jail time or fines, they sound like they’re in a bizarre TV sitcom.
“How dare you give me the option as to whether I tell you what mode of transportation I use to get to work? I don’t believe I should have the right not to inform the government of every minute detail of my life. Restore the threats and coercion forthwith!”
Many people are misinformed and think the long form census is being eliminated when in fact it’s merely being replaced by a voluntary “national household survey”. The latter will be sent to one-third of all homes in Canada.
Not that I care.
Recently the controversy came to a head, with the resignation of Munir Sheikh, chief of Statistics Canada. In leaving his position, Mr.Sheikh said that he cannot accept the decision to move to a voluntary survey from a mandatory census.
Shiekh has become an instant hero in some circles and media darling, for resigning on “principle”. But what principle, exactly?
It’s only Sheikh’s opinion that the mandatory long census is irreplaceable and his opinion is primarily self-serving. Quite frankly, it hardly matters what Munir Sheikh thinks about how essential question “H3 a” (“How many rooms are there in this dwelling”) is in section “F” of the 40 page census. It should be my prerogative whether or not to inform the government how many rooms exist in my house.
What’s so principled about quitting a $250,000 job, anyway? Is this really the cross that Mr.Sheikh feels he should be nailed to? If nothing else, the head of Statistics Canada has shown that the Canadian economy has recovered remarkably well if he feels he can quit his position at the drop of a hat. Here’s a tip for the census takers left behind: most Canadians can’t do that. Even on “principle.”
This isn’t a long form census article. It’s more of a rant about how frustrated I am to read the same demagoguery on the same topic day in and day out. That Canadians care about this nonsense and not the plight of Afghanistan depresses me in a way that words cannot express.
At an expected cost of $660 million, the 2011 census is designed to ferret out information about incomes, demographics, and language, among other topics. Do you really want to answer 40 pages worth of “sociological” questions such as where were your parents born or when your house was constructed? It’s like doing your taxes twice.
And yet Canadians are getting worked up into a frenzy, railing against Stephen Harper like he’s a totalitarian dictator for giving them an option about doing those taxes twice. It’s like your boss telling saying you don’t have to work on Friday and then taking him to the Labour Board for wrongful dismissal.
As Kevin Libin writes, “Canadians are posting lame protest songs on YouTube—and earning press coverage over it for crying out loud.”
It’s the summer. Go out and ride a bicycle. Drink a beer on a patio. Go swimming in one of our million lakes. But for the love of all that’s Canadian, stop whining about not being forced to answer 40 pages of questions from the government.
What do you think of changes to the long-form census?
Take the Libertas Post/Western Standard poll at:
http://www.ask500people.com/questions/the-conservative-government-promis...
Other countries have crises: major earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, major floods, et cetera, while we have the privilege of manufacturing crises. Still I have yet to encounter any Canadian the least bit concerned about eliminating the mandatory aspect other than the chattering class.
I have two words to say about the census, "Good riddance." What an intrusive piece of garbage it is. I was pretty much threatened over the last one to have to do it. I'm glad its gone. What I can't believe is these idiots who are whining that it's been stopped. I'll take the voluntary census, and answer only the questions that I deem to be unobtrusive. Good job Harper, smart thinking if you ask me.