INDU Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 29

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology met in a televised session at 9:00 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, the Hon. Michael D.Chong, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Robert Bouchard, Hon. Michael D. Chong, Marc Garneau, Mike Lake, Hon. Dan McTeague and Anthony Rota.

Acting Members present: David Anderson for Peter Braid, Charlie Angus for Brian Masse, Hon. Mauril Bélanger for Marc Garneau, Hon. Maxime Bernier for Dave Van Kesteren, Claude Gravelle for Brian Masse, Tom Lukiwski for Gordon Brown, Richard Nadeau for Serge Cardin and Daniel Petit for Mike Wallace.

Other Members present: Hon. Mauril Bélanger and Hon. Carolyn Bennett.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Havi Echenberg, Analyst . As an individual: Barbara McIsaac, Lawyer.

Appearing: Hon. Tony Clement, P.C., M.P., Minister of Industry.

Witnesses: Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Carman Baggaley, Strategic Policy Advisor. Ipsos Canada: Darrell Bricker, President, Public Affairs. National Citizens Coalition: Peter Coleman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Department of Industry: Richard Dicerni, Deputy Minister. Québécois Libre: Bradley Doucet, English Editor. Canadian Medical Association Journal: Paul Hébert, Editor-in-Chief; Kim Barnhart, Senior Communications & Partnership Strategist. Statistical Society of Canada: Don McLeish, President. Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada: Marie-France Kenny, President. York University: David Tanny, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Fraser Institute: Niels Veldhuis, Senior Research Economist. Université du Québec à Chicoutimi: Martin Simard, Research Professor, Department of Human Resources. Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami: Elisapee Sheutiapik, Board Member. As individuals: Ivan P. Fellegi, Former employee of Statistics Canada; Munir Sheikh, Former employee of Statistics Canada; Don Drummond, Chair, Advisory Pannel on Labour Market Information; Paul McKeever, Employment Lawyer; Ernie Boyko, Adjunct Data Librarian, Carleton University Library Data Centre.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, the Committee commenced its study of the long-form portion of the census.

Tony Clement made a statement and, with Richard Dicerni, answered questions.

At 10:00 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:30 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Munir Sheikh and Ivan P. Fellegi made statements and answered questions.

At 11:29 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:30 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Don McLeish, Martin Simard, David Tanny and Bradley Doucet answered questions.

At 1:30 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 2:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Don Drummond, Paul Hébert, Ernie Boyko, Darrell Bricker and Niels Veldhuis, by videoconference from Vancouver, British Columbia, answered questions.

At 2:59 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:30 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Jennifer Stoddart, Elisapee Sheutiapik, Paul McKeever, Marie-France Kenny and Peter Coleman answered questions.

At 4:29 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:45 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Claude Gravelle moved, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108 and the committee’s study of the long-form portion of the census, this Committee notes that, the long-form census is a vital tool for good policy-making and the decision to amend it was short-sighted and carried out without consultation. Therefore, the government should immediately reverse the changes to the long-form census. And, that this committee tables this report upon resumption of Parliament.

Debate arose thereon.

Dan McTeague moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “reverse the changes to” with the words “reinstate the manditory nature of”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Dan McTeague and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108 and the committee’s study of the long-form portion of the census, this Committee notes that the long-form census is a vital tool for good policy-making and the decision to amend it was short-sighted and carried out without consultation. Therefore, the government should immediately reinstate the manditory nature of the long-form census. And, that this committee tables this report upon resumption of Parliament.

Dan McTeague moved, — That, the committee request, under the authority of Standing Order 108(2), in relation to its study on the long-form portion of the census, that the Minister table all documents and emails between Statistics Canada, the Privy Council Office and the Minister of Industry`s office on changes to the 2011 census. The committee also requests the analysis section of the Memorandum to Cabinet. And requests that said material be delivered to the committee within 5 days.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

At 5:03 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Michelle Tittley
Clerk of the Committee

2010/12/21 1:00 p.m.