policy

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Graphic By http://www.socialsignal.com/

First of all! A cool CBC Archive Video: 1961 census counts, not humourous but, mais bon, le plus Ça change le plus c’est la même chose!

Next up, Census Swag Perfect for summer – and no, datalibre.ca does not get a cut!

Graphic By http://www.socialsignal.com/

Graphic By http://www.socialsignal.com/

Globe and Mail

I contacted the Clerks office to find these documents today.  Here is the link to the official transcript from the 40th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology EVIDENCE Tuesday, July 27, 2010, Meeting 29.  I highly recommend that folks download documents from here before they disappear or are modified.  Remember the consultation gone bad!

Also, here are the MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, Meeting No. 29 Tuesday, July 27, 2010 in which the following motions appears:

1) That pursuant to Standing Order 108 and the committee’s study of the long-form portion of the Census, this Committee notes that, the long-form census is a vital tool for good policy-making and the decision to amend it was short-sighted and carried out without consultation. Therefore, the government should immediately reinstate the manditory nature of the long-form census. And, that this committee tables this report upon resumption of Parliament.

2) Dan McTeague moved, — The committee request under the authority of Standing Order 108 in relation to its study on the long-form portion of the Census, that the Minister table all documents and emails between Statistics Canada, the Privy Council Office and the Minister of Industry`s office on changes to the 2011 census. The committee also requests the analysis section of the Memorandum to Cabinet. And requests that said material be delivered to the committee within 5 days.

I called the Chair’s office, Michael D.Chong, Conservative MP Wellington – Halton Hills (613) 992-4179,  and spoke to an official on the phone who explained that motions are binding and at times it is not unusual for documents to be late, as was the case here.  The Documents that were requested were delivered to the members of the committee. The documents are Memorandum to Cabinet and we citizens are not privy to those.

Also, if the government of the day does not comply with committee motions, there are a number of actions that can be taken such as censure in the house or a consideration of contempt of parliament.  These seem like compelling actions.  I will someday read the House of Commons Practical Guide to Committees to see if there are any other procedural things of note.

Further, reports are produced from committee which include non binding recommendations.  And the first part of this motion is the substance of the report – verbatum – that will be submitted to parliament when it resumes.   It will be up to us to ensure that this one is.

Here is the INDU Committee Contact Information.  The site is designed to make it near impossible to find information, but the clerk might be able to help you find what you need:

Michelle Tittley

Clerk of the Committee

Tel.: 613-947-1971

Sixth Floor, 131 Queen Street

House of Commons

Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

Canada

Fax: 613-996-1626

E-mail: INDU@parl.gc.ca

Graphic By http://www.socialsignal.com/

Graphic By http://www.socialsignal.com/

Note: I am receiving material by email from folks and this was the motherload of images I found in my mailbox this week.  I mean no copyright disrespect, and hope that the Artists, if they see their piece here, and see that I have not properly referenced them, will take pity, and just send me their references with a link to their other work.  I think it is important to keep a public record of all this material as it looks like we are going to be needing it!  There are more cartoons here, here and here.

Now it is personal, do the tories hate data lovers?:

“Gordon O’Connor, the Conservative party whip who ensures MPs stay on message, said the census is “not an issue that people are going to live and die on” and that it’s mainly a big issue for the groups that want “free data” and the media who want something to write about during the summer” Montreal Gazette

“We don’t govern on the basis of statistics,” Nicholson said. “We govern on the basis of what we hear from the public and what law enforcement agencies tell us. That has not changed in the four and a half years we’ve been in government.”

Lots of cool videos if you search: Canada Census on youtube!
Action

CBC Question of the Day:

And of course another song! (A la Johnny Cash)

Census Prison

(with sincere apologies to Johnny Cash)

I hear the census taker
He’s coming down the hall
He’s gonna ask me questions
That I won’t like at all

So I’m stuck inside this prison
No-one to post my bail
That damn form was too intrusive
So now I’m stuck in jail

It could have been San Quentin
Or maybe Alcatraz
I landed in the Don Jail
A sittin’ on my ass

Cause I skipped a census question,
Just because I could.
Then the census Mounties caught me
And locked me up for good.

Oh I hate that long form census
I’ll curse it till I die
Please Mr. Harper save me,
I promise I will try

And I’ll do my civic duty
Once every twenty-five years.
I’ll fill out that long form census,
Oh momma, dry your tears!

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