Evidence of meeting #137 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was household.
A video is available from Parliament.
Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada
It will only be in the aggregate form, where no one's information can be identified.
Whitby, Lib.
Has Statistics Canada been asked to spy on Canadians?
Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada
Well, as I said, using innovative ways, new ways, to get at data is nothing new to Statistics Canada. We're a world leader when it comes to this. When we hear from Canadians that our data are falling short of their needs, we look for new ways to get at that information—again, without ever compromising the privacy and confidentiality of Canadians.
Whitby, Lib.
Is it correct to say that this was internally driven from Statistics Canada?
Whitby, Lib.
Did the Government of Canada ask Statistics Canada to start this project?
Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada
No, not any specific project, per se; I think the Government of Canada said that they have a desire to increase the quality and the timeliness of data, and I think there's been support, as I just mentioned, for the modernization of Statistics Canada.
Whitby, Lib.
Can this data that has been collected be used by the government in any way to spy on Canadians?
Whitby, Lib.
Can the Liberal government use this data in any way to spy on Canadians?
Whitby, Lib.
Can the opposition members use this data in any way to spy on Canadians?
Whitby, Lib.
Can the government use the data collected in any way to see what specifically Canadians are doing with their money?
Whitby, Lib.
Can the Liberal government use the data collected in any way to see what Canadians are doing with their money?
Whitby, Lib.
Can the opposition use the data collected in any way to see what Canadians are doing with their money?
Whitby, Lib.
Can any member of the government access Statistics Canada data that has been collected?
Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada
They can't in individual form, only in aggregate form, which has been completely scrubbed.
Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada
It's rolled up into statistics, i.e., a trend in a particular neighbourhood or for a particular segment of the population. It's never about an individual, either a firm or an individual Canadian.