Top statistician quits over census

QMI Agency via Sun Media ^ | 2010-07-22 | Laura Payton

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OTTAWA -- The head of Statistics Canada has quit, saying a voluntary census can't replace a mandatory one.

Munir Sheikh, the country's top statistician, said a voluntary survey isn't a substitute for a mandatory census.

"Under the circumstances, I have tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister," Sheikh said in a written statement Wednesday night.

Before Sheikh resigned, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said the situation smacked of political interference.

"It's another example of the lack of respect of Canadian institutions," Ignatieff said.

A statement from the prime minister's office said the government was trying to balance privacy rights with information collection.

"It is unfortunate that Mr. Sheikh did not share these objectives," the PMO said.

Industry Minister Tony Clement has spent the past three weeks defending the government's decision to take away penalties for not filling out the long-form census.

Clement said many people consider it too intrusive. Anyone who didn't fill out the census risked fines or jail time.

Clement said in a statement he regretted the resignation, but repeated the government's position.

"By working together with the professionals at Statistics Canada I believe we can compensate for these challenges and offer data-users high quality and accurate information," Clement said.

Sheikh's predecessor, Ivan Fellegi, has said he would have quit if the change had happened while he was in the department's top job.

Sheikh said in his statement he wishes the best to his successor. Clement says Wayne Smith, an assistant chief statistician, will take over until they find a permanent replacement.

"I promise not to comment on how he/she should do the job. I do sincerely hope that my successor's professionalism will help run this great organization while defending its reputation," he said.

Across Canada

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The “Across Canada” at the end of the article should have been clipped by me when I posted the article

[styky]

So he quit his job because the government stubbornly won't change it's mind and keep what he stubbornly wants them to. Little bit of the pot calling the kettle black me thinks.

He also sounds like a spoiled teenager, with a "I'll show them, I will quit and that will them who's boss. News flash this is 2010 and no one is indispensable or irreplaceable.