Research will certainly be affected. We will be left without tools.
Let's consider a hypothetical situation. If we are told that 67% of Montreal's population speaks English, we will not know whether that information is accurate. In reality, the figure is perhaps 61% or perhaps 77%. We will be unable to measure the inaccuracy, but we will always be unsure.
In an information society, scientists in the social or environmental sciences, or in other scientific areas, will no longer really be able to use that data, since it will be considered as unreliable and inaccurate. That could affect the reputation of Canadian research papers published internationally.
In addition to all that, we are wondering how, in an age of globalization and information, a government can reduce the reliability of information on society, economy and the country. It is a bit like making things more difficult on purpose.