Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank the minister for joining us today.
I have several questions. The first one is about Statistics Canada.
We know that a number of economists and experts have expressed their views on the change made at Statistics Canada. They said that income inequality has not decreased, on the contrary. Your government is claiming that it has decreased. However, the government is basing its statements on incomplete data from the National Household Survey. This voluntary survey replaced the mandatory long-term census.
Could you at least recognize that what your government implemented to replace the mandatory long-form census was less precise and much more expensive?
In fact, it was found that 11,000 subdivisions were not identified in the form the Conservative government had submitted. It was also observed that the cost was $29 million higher than it was for the previous long-form questionnaire.
Will you reconsider your position regarding this and reintroduce the Statistics Canada long-form questionnaire?