Thank you, Madam Chair.
First of all, I would like to thank this morning's witnesses. Their testimony is critically important to the decision that will be made regarding the long-form census.
I would like to hear your views on the reasons given by the government for scrapping the long-form census. Confidentiality is a consideration the importance of which should not be minimized. Information concerning the intimate details of households should not need to be disclosed. Two reasons were cited by the government. Having to disclose the number of bedrooms one has is a problem that was mentioned by Mr. Clement. Last week, the Secretary of State stated that it was indiscreet to inquire about the time a person leaves the house to go to work and the amount of time it takes people to get to work.
Do you consider these valid reasons? Given the impact the elimination of the long-form census will have on your work, are these good enough reasons to do away with the long-form census?