Head of StatsCan resigns over census changes

[Spazito]

The head of Statistics Canada has resigned after a controversial decision by the Conservatives to scrap the long-form census, saying a voluntary survey cannot become a substitute for a mandatory one.

"Under the circumstances, I have tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister," Munir A. Sheikh said in a statement posted to the Statistics Canada website Wednesday evening.

snip

However, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said that Sheikh in fact doesn't support the switch and that he's "unhappy" with any contradicting suggestion.

"(Sheikh is) clearly very unhappy with the government's position to dumb down the accuracy and reliability of the census," Fife told CTV News Channel Wednesday evening. "He's particularly unhappy with the fact that Tony Clement seemed to finger him as the one who supported this when in fact he doesn't."

more

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20100721/stats_can_resign_100721/

I sensed this decision by the harper cabal could develop legs back when it first started and it certainly has done that.

[CHIMO]

1. Good

Cacus members disagreeing with the move.

Department heads resigning.

Something that Michael Wilson and all since haven't lived up to.

Now keep it at a simmer, not a boil. It could be just the beginning. The Conservatives have been in power for four and a half years.

From the three musketeers, Jaffer is gone, Rajotte is questioning the removal of the long census form based on requests from riding members and Kenny rides high.

Clement is carrying over one billion dollars in payoffs.

AECL is being sold off. Just like the Arrow.

Keep it simmering. Bring to a boil at election time.

[Spazito]

2. I think harper's arrogance and stubborn micro-management fixation...

will do exactly that, keep it and the other up-and-coming issues simmering.

[JBoy]

3. I've noticed an undercurrent of ideology emerging for about a year

that I haven't seen since Harper was elected. I actually thought they'd done a pretty good job keeping a lid on their hard-right Reform wing, but maybe some of that pressure is starting to bubble to the surface.

This census move was nuts. They're breaking the unwritten rule, that whether it's Liberals or Conservatives in power, you don't do anything that's just plain stupid. That's what Canada is all about. A little boring, but we don't do anything that's outright stupid.

[Spazito]

4. It's interesting to speculate what is behind it....

The only thing that makes sense to me is they want to control the figures, manipulate them to better suit their propaganda as to "what Canadians want" on many issues. I haven't seen any polls, as yet, on this issue, it will be interesting to see if Canadians, indeed, have paid some attention. I sure hope so.

The rabid right wing of the party certainly does seem to be taking a more 'prominent' role recently. I can't help but wonder if their internal polling is showing some problems hence the need to placate them.

[daleo]

6. The latest EKOS polls

Have "other" parties edging up. I don't know what they are, but probably right wing religious. Perhaps Harper sees a long term threat from that direction, much like Reform was a long term threat to the old PC party.

[Spazito]

7. Something is definitely up....

Today it's reported:

Tories want review of affirmative action hiring in public service

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/tories-want-review-of-affirmative-action-hiring-in-public-service-99031834.html

They are definitely ramping up the pandering to the racist, rabid right wing Reformers lately.

[daleo]

5. Mr. Sheikh showed commendable integrity and professionalism

I heartily commend him for that. No doubt Conservative pundits will attack him. Spector started today, implying that his resignation came too late - talk about a cheap shot artist.