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July 15, 2010
Hon. Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
C.D. Howe Building
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0H5
Dear Minister,
I am writing to you regarding the Federal Government’s intent to end the mandatory requirement for completing the detailed Census questionnaire. Data from this survey provides an invaluable resource for measuring human rights equality. The Ontario Human Rights Commission is concerned that a voluntary approach will result in inadequate data that is skewed by self-selection and no longer comparable to previous censuses.
We are also concerned about reports that two other surveys – the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants and the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey about people with physical and mental disabilities – may also be limited or eliminated.
These surveys provide information on issues that matter most to Canadians: education, employment, income, housing, health, language, mobility, child care, etc. They measure progress in these areas, particularly for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, women, recent immigrants, persons with disabilities, racialized communities and other groups that have faced historic disadvantage and discrimination.
All levels and departments of government use this type of data to identify the diverse needs of groups and set priorities for socio-economic programs. Countless educational, health and social service organizations use it in their role to promote awareness and focus services. My commission along with other members of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies are working on initiatives that will rely on this data to measure the state of human rights. It is also a significant resource to help Canada comply with its international reporting obligations on the progressive realization of rights under UN treaties. And media report on the results which allows all of us to gauge how well we are doing as a nation and share responsibility for doing better.
This data provides a record of why Canada is recognized internationally for human rights equality and as one of the best places to live. We believe that most Canadians accept a mandatory need for this data and have confidence in Statistics Canada’s long history of safeguarding our personal information.
We urge the Federal Government to reconsider and keep the detailed questionnaire mandatory and continue its surveys of immigrants and persons with disabilities. Doing so is vital, not only to data integrity, but also for holding our country accountable for its human rights commitments enshrined in human rights legislation, our Charter and the international treaties we have signed.
Yours truly,
Barbara Hall, B.A, LL.B, Ph.D (hon.)
Chief Commissioner
Copy: Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Hon. Christopher Bentley, Attorney General