Tagged: census
Vandalizing the census – cont.
Gus Reed really hates the long census questionnaire:
I admit to some disappointment that you have so totally and uncritically capitulated to the Forces of Social Planning on the census issue. Contrarians need to be contrary. Apart from the indisputably careless design of the long form (or the sloppy posting of an unedited version), there are a couple of things that rankle:
Many of the questions are sort of inherently interesting, but that doesn’t mean they should be asked. What government policy hinges on knowing the birthplace of my parents (#25)?
I like this statement attached to the race/ethnicity question: “This information is collected to support programs that promote equal opportunity for everyone to share in the social, cultural and economic life of Canada.” It would be good discipline to have such a statement attached to each question, or at least each section. If the statement is not succinct and understandable, then it’s a good indication that someone’s just fishing: “We want to know where your parents were born because your government is considering a system of preferential immigration based on national origin.”
More argument, and Contrarian rebuttal, after the jump – photos included!
Quote of the day
Tom Flanagan, the University of Calgary political scientist who once served as Stephen Harper’s chief of staff and who has a long history in the Reform, Canadian Alliance, and Conservative parties, tells Meagan Fitzpatrick of Postmedia News he is puzzled by the government’s decision on the census:
It’s just never been an issue in the Conservative movement. It just literally comes out of nowhere as far as I can see… I think it was an exercise in bad government to suddenly spring this on the public without any previous discussion, no consultation at all. You don’t deal with the public that way in a democracy….
They are alienating a lot of people who have supported the government and would like to continue supporting the government, people who are fundamentally Conservatives but see this as just bad government,” said Flanagan. “It’s not clear to me what they’re going to pick up from this politically and they’re irritating a lot of people who would like to be their friends.
I would go further. Like the Fall 2008 mini-budget and the savage attacks on diplomat Richard Colvin, the census debacle reinforces quiet doubts among middle-of-the-road Canadians about the course Harper will chart if they are ever imprudent enough to give him a majority.
Or to put it another way, if Frank McKenna were their leader, the Liberals would be over 50% in the polls, not under 24%.
