Bill C-562 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Statistics Act (Chief Statistician and long-form census)

This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2015.

Sponsor

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Dec. 9, 2013
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Statistics Act to provide for a specific process relating to the appointment of the Chief Statistician of Canada. It also prescribes additional duties for the Chief Statistician and increases the independence of the Chief Statistician in carrying out his or her duties.
Further, it provides for a long-form questionnaire to be used for taking the census of population under that Act.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

All House mentions

Statistics ActRoutine Proceedings

September 22nd, 2014 / 3:10 p.m.

See context

Liberal

Ted Hsu Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-626, An Act to amend the Statistics Act (appointment of Chief Statistician and long-form census).

Mr. Speaker, in the game of chess it is said that if one sees a good move, look for an even better one.

After feedback from experts and stakeholders, I am pleased to present a refinement of my Bill C-562, an act to amend the Statistics Act. This amended bill explicitly acknowledges that new sources of data or data collection practices would be available in the future and would not simply reinstate the long form census in its recent form. It would require what was really important, the continuity of data series and the maintenance for improvement of data quality.

The proposed bill will also clarify that not all ministerial orders to the Chief Statistician or to Statistics Canada shall be published in the new Canada Gazette, but only if they fall within the scope of technical or methodological guidelines and ethical standards, which the Chief Statistician is required to post, maintain and archive on the Statistics Canada website.

The amended bill will expand the duties of its Chief Statistician to include keeping the public informed about the importance of gathering accurate statistical information and consulting with stakeholders on matters pertaining to the census.

I hope all members will see fit to support the bill to safeguard the quality of the information used for managing this country.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Statistics ActRoutine Proceedings

December 9th, 2013 / 3:05 p.m.

See context

Liberal

Ted Hsu Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-562, An Act to amend the Statistics Act (Chief Statistician and long-form census).

Mr. Speaker, as legislators and citizens, we need to have the best data so that we can understand and respond to the challenges facing all Canadians.

Today, I am pleased to present an act to amend the Statistics Act, which would amend the appointment process for the chief statistician and extend the authority of that position, shielding it from political interference. My bill would increase the independence of the chief statistician, recognizing that the position requires significant expertise in data collection and statistical analysis that politicians should avoid interfering with.

The bill would also reinstate the mandatory long form census called for publicly by former chief statisticians, including Ivan Fellegi and Munir Sheikh. I am proud to present the bill and I hope that all parties will support the bill to protect the integrity of Statistics Canada.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)