Canadian Press: Troubled StatsCan facing $7M in cuts

[tuvor]

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada, already reeling from the long-form census debacle, is chopping at least five surveys after being ordered to find $7 million in savings.

The beleaguered agency plans to drop a pair of environmental surveys, a health report and two sets of business statistics, along with other measures to meet budgetary demands from the Conservative government.

"If we keep going down this path ... we are at serious risk of eroding the quality of our statistics to unacceptable levels," Munir Sheikh, then chief statistician, warned in a May 31 letter to Treasury Board weeks before he quit his post over the long-form census controversy.

"Our collections systems are becoming outdated, we have less than optimal levels of automation of our processes and we suffer from a lack of proper documentation that can be risky."

...

http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101011/statistics-canada-cuts-101110/20101011/?hub=EdmontonHome

[daleo]

1. Harper has a Master's degree in Economics

You might think that would incline him favorably towards statistical agencies like StatsCan. After all, statistics are the bread and butter of the profession. He's like a geologist that doesn't like data from the field, because it might upset some pet theory he holds.

[CHIMO]

2. Not One Bit

Surprised. Harper wants to get rid of medicare. No additional funding for the optional long form census, The cutting the budget.

Health care is under attack. As is every other progressive policy. No info then no reason to keep the policy.

Opposition should key in on this. It follows up on the long form census fiasco. It is becoming clearer why the long form was removed.