Industry committee  There are at least two aspects to it. A change in legislation cannot, by itself alone, restore confidence that has been damaged or solve that problem. On the other hand, having appropriate legislation in place and ensuring that it creates greater transparency, that people are more aware of things, of what has happened, and that there is a structure that ensures confidentiality, competence, professional integrity, and so on, are part of the building blocks.

Industry committee  We often go by consensus, or because our role is to provide a range of views and to make sure that StatsCan understands the range of user demands and concerns out there, often that is the end in itself. We rarely will then say to the chief statistician, “We formally believe that you should do X or undertake this survey.”

Industry committee  Absolutely. Occasionally, the chief statistician will ask for a committee to be formed on a particular topic. That committee will consult with the entire council and often produce a written piece of advice to the chief statistician, but in cases where there are mixed views, we make sure they're reflected.

Industry committee  No, they do not select. They are all appointed by the chief statistician. StatsCan, current members, and other people who have long-standing relationships with Statistics Canada tend to provide a pool that will make suggestions. For example, we have almost invariably had at least one member of the media, the press, there.

Industry committee  We have 40 members, of whom I would say about 35 are very active. Sometimes they are selected by suggestions of the members of the council, or they are appointments by the chief statistician. Also, they are effectively a cross-section of users of the data.

Industry committee  Yes, we try to have all regions. Currently, we don't have every province represented. We try hard to have regional balance. We have a mix of academics, NGOs, heavy users, and commercial unions, for example. That's the—

Industry committee  The academics who are on the council tend to be very heavy users, but in fact, I would say over half of the members of the council are not current academics. We have retired senior bureaucrats on there as well. We're very conscious that this not simply become a channel for, to put it pejoratively, academics to push for their favourite research project.

Industry committee  We have tended often to have a senior economist from one of the banks. Certain industries tend to be heavy users of data. We also have had people from groups like C.D. Howe Institute, that would be viewed not as part of the corporate sector directly but as interested in issues it finds important.

Industry committee  I believe it has been very useful. Chief statisticians have often come to us saying, “There is an issue we are examining and we would like your feedback on it.” It also, in fact, tends to make us go back to our constituent groups and consult in the area and find out, so we find over several meetings that we'll get ongoing discussion with additional information about areas.

Industry committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this committee. Let me begin with a brief introduction to the National Statistics Council. The NSC was created 30 years ago to advise the chief statistician on matters affecting the Canadian statistical system.

Industry committee  The assessment will be conducted by Statistics Canada. They may ask for our advice on some element of it, and the typical post-census work would begin as data collection ends, I assume. I would actually have to turn that question over to the two gentlemen from Statistics Canada, who would know a bit better.

Industry committee  Mr. McTeague, you may be under some misapprehension about the National Statistics Council. We're an advisory body to the chief statistician. He may pose questions and ask for our advice on certain things, but the issues you're talking about are highly technical and detailed. They involve a great deal of work that will be done within StatsCan.

Industry committee  Stats Canada has always been very careful about lengthy consultations to ensure that any questions asked meet real demands out there. Last year's census consultation process.... The National Statistics Council is a minor part of that. They go out to ensure that there is need for those data and that there are not easier and less intrusive ways of getting it.

Industry committee  Yes, and confidentiality.

Industry committee  Yes.