Martin, opposition leaders against census decision

NEWS RELEASE

TONY MARTIN

**************************** Martin, opposition parties hammer government on census decision

OTTAWA – The Conservative government decision to scrap the mandatory long-form census in favour of a voluntary survey will yield less reliable data and undermine good social policy, Sault MP Tony Martin and other Opposition MPs said Tuesday.

“I believe that government has no greater responsibility than to look after those in its jurisdiction who are most at risk and marginalized,” Martin said. “Removing the long form census, discarding important data that will give us the ability ... to measure poverty and know what it looks like in different places in the country, will tie our hands behind our backs. We need the long form census to acquire the information necessary to target the resources that will give us the best return on our investment.

“I have watched governments at both the provincial and federal levels, particularly in the last 15 years, try to define the issue out of existence rather than do things on behalf of and in support of those who are challenged. All the while, the people who are counting on us, who are looking to government for some assistance, who are thinking that we will work with them to help them better their lives, get nothing. They get no leadership, no direction, and no partnership.”

Martin noted Canada’s Catholic bishops, Jewish leaders and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada are among the more than 360 groups – including statisticians, provinces, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Medical Association – against the census decision.

Opposition MPs united yesterday in a House of Commons vote to pass a motion calling on the feds to reinstate the mandatory long-form census without the threat of imprisonment.

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