“The Politics of the Census: Lessons from Abroad.” Canadian Public Policy 36, 3 (2010): 375-380. (original) (raw)

The elimination of the mandatory long form of Canada's 2011 Census in favor of a voluntary survey raises significant concerns regarding data reliability and political motivations. Critics argue that the government's decision, framed as a privacy protection measure, is more ideologically driven and risks alienating traditional business allies. The paper emphasizes the importance of maintaining the objectivity and institutional autonomy of Statistics Canada to ensure the production of accurate and unbiased data essential for informed policy-making.