Statscan head mulls future in census dispute

[daleo]

The head of Statistics Canada says he's "reflecting on his future" at the agency, the latest twist in the crisis over the government's decision to scrub the mandatory long-form census.

Munir Sheikh issued an email to all agency staff Wednesday, cancelling a planned town-hall meeting and saying he would comment soon — sparking speculation from insiders that he might resign.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/07/21/census-statscan-long-form.html#ixzz0uLC5y7cX

[CHIMO]

1. Tony Clement clears the air on census

The Globe and Mail spoke to Industry Minister Tony Clement on Tuesday afternoon about the debate surrounding the Conservative government's decision to scrap the mandatory long-form census. A transcript of that interview follows.

Q: I'd like to clarify things. I thought you when you talked to me several days ago that you basically said to Statscan, "Look we want to do this, we want to get rid of the mandatory long-form, and tell me what I need to do to make it so that there's no downside to that.".

A: That is 100 per cent accurate. That is exactly what I said to them.

Q: Ok... But the allegation is that's not what Statscan said, that had said that you should not do this, we advise against eliminating the mandatory long form.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tony-clement-clears-the-air-on-census/article1647055/

[Spazito]

2. Wow, we now have government by ....

Twitterverse! Boggles the mind.


"A: Obviously it's a vociferous debate but I am actually pleasantly surprised at the support I am getting given the one-sidedness of the mainstream media, if I can put it that way.

Q: Do you have any way of tallying that support?

A: I am doing that through the Twitterverse as best I can and immediately scorn is heaped upon me because I won't give names and numbers. But quite frankly, given the amount of vitriol that is thrown at me on an average day on Twitter, I am loath to give out names without approval -- and I think that's only just."

[EmilyKent]

3. He just resigned.