Pair Of Duelling Private Member's Bills Stir Debate Over Census

The Canadian Press, 02 Feb, 2015 01:18 PM

OTTAWA — A pair of duelling bills are putting the debate over the census and the work of Statistics Canada back on the floor of the House of Commons.

A Conservative and a Liberal MP each have a private member's bill that addresses the census going through the legislative process.

Liberal MP Ted Hsu's bill, which would bring back the long-form census and bolster the independence of the chief statistician, is scheduled for a second-reading vote this week.

Many groups including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, municipalities and religious groups have backed the return of the long-form census.

Conservative MP Joe Preston's legislation would remove the threat of jail time as a penalty in all surveys conducted by Statistics Canada, including the mandatory, short-form census.

Preston's bill would allow fines to be imposed on those who refuse to complete the forms.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Halifax university changes frosh week, a year after incident shone spotlight

Saint Mary's University in Halifax is providing training to student leaders who are involved in orientation week activities, nearly a year since a frosh chant glorified non-consensual sex with underage girls.

Halifax university changes frosh week, a year after incident shone spotlight

NDP government would open inquiry into native women murders within 100 days

Tom Mulcair says an NDP government would establish a full public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women within 100 days of taking office.

NDP government would open inquiry into native women murders within 100 days

Fire crews start extinguishing Iqaluit's 'dumpcano'

Fire crews are hoping to finally start pumping water on a dump fire in Iqaluit that has been smouldering since May.

Fire crews start extinguishing Iqaluit's 'dumpcano'

Canadians pay more than $500M in fees a year for paper bills, statements: report

Canadians are probably paying more than half a billion dollars a year to receive printed bills and bank statements by mail, according to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.