Statement made on 27 September 2010 by Senator Joan Fraser
Hon. Joan Fraser:
Honourable senators, I have a supplementary question for the leader. As she is aware, Statistics Canada publishes invaluable profiles of language minorities in Canada based upon the long-form census. The one on English Quebecers published last week runs to 122 pages, and is an absolute treasure trove of information about the English-language community in Quebec. It goes a long way to dispelling some of the unpleasantly persistent mythology about that community. Even though it is the work of Statistics Canada, there are those in Quebec who try to dispute the findings because they do not like what the information says. Fortunately, most people know that the work of Statistics Canada is valid. They may not like the news, but they accept the news.
However, every statistician and expert on opinion polling will tell you that a voluntary survey is not as statistically valid as a compulsory one. It just is not, despite the leader's undoubtedly heartfelt belief.
Can the leader please tell me, the next time that Statistics Canada has to publish news that some people do not like, how this government will restore the credibility of what was once one of our proudest institutions?
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