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EXTRACTS FROM HANSARD
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PROCEEDINGS OF CANADA'S HOUSE OF COMMONS

The following extracts have been taken from Hansard Records
of Canada's House of Commons for the 37th Parliament of Canada:

Debates of the House of Commons (Hansard)
1st Session, 37th Parliament,
NUMBER 057
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
The Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker

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ORAL QUESTION PERIOD

STATISTICS CANADA

Mr. Pierre Brien (Témiscamingue, BQ): Mr. Speaker, this year's Statistics Canada census will not yield any valid data on ethnic or cultural origin, because it deliberately skews responses by offering the additional category of "Canadian", which has no scientific basis whatsoever.

Does the Prime Minister realize that the cabinet's manipulation of the census questions makes it impossible to monitor the rate of assimilation of this country's francophones?

Mr. John Cannis (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, there is no manipulation when it comes to questions. As a matter of fact let me quote the privacy commissioner who feels very confident with what is happening. He said "I am satisfied that the questions are reasonable and appropriate from the point of view of privacy".

Mr. Pierre Brien (Témiscamingue, BQ): Mr. Speaker, as the minister did not understand my question, does the Prime Minister realize that the government's manipulations are in the process of transforming a scientific tool into a propaganda tool and, furthermore, cast doubt on the very principle of the independence of Statistics Canada?

Mr. John Cannis (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the only propaganda we hear comes from the Bloc Quebecois side not the Liberal government side. I am sad the Bloc Quebecois has taken this initiative to collect the statistics and to manipulate them.

Let me repeat again what the privacy commissioner said. He said "I am satisfied that the questions are reasonable and appropriate from the point of view of privacy. I am satisfied that all appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the privacy of individuals".

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STATISTICS CANADA

Ms. Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre, BQ): Mr. Speaker, the census is one of the tools used by the government to enforce the Official Languages Act and identify the needs of communities throughout Canada.

Will the Prime Minister admit that it is very worrying to see the minister responsible for the application of the Official Languages Act endorsing the manipulation of scientific data concerning the ethnic and cultural origin of citizens who complete the census?

Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada is an organization which has built up an excellent reputation over the years and which conducts the census in the best interest of all Canadians. The nature of questions must take into account all the laws of parliament, including the law on the right to privacy.

Under the circumstances, I think that Statistics Canada is doing its best, and we believe that the statistics will, in any event, tell us the percentage of francophones in Canada.

Ms. Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre, BQ): Mr. Speaker, the manipulation of such sensitive figures will mean that thousands of people, particularly Acadians and francophones, may no longer appear in the official data.

Does the Prime Minister realize that this manipulation is one more thing that will distort the real figures on the rate of assimilation of francophones, thus opening the door in the medium term to a decrease in bilingual government services?

Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, everyone is entirely free to indicate their mother tongue in this questionnaire. All francophones and others may indicate their mother tongue. Some may refuse to do so and that is apparently their decision.

But Statistics Canada is taking the necessary steps to ensure that we have the best statistics possible in the circumstances.