Official Languages committee  I can just say that I have never doubted the relevance of doing so. The key issue was determining how to do it.

Official Languages committee  Absolutely.

Official Languages committee  The schedule that was proposed to you is proven. It has been discussed and has been part of every census consultation since it was done. It's important to understand that there is a series of qualitative tests in the spring, that is, we meet with people to make sure they understand the questions, so that we can establish whether the questions pose a problem.

Official Languages committee  We can't change it just because there are political considerations, for instance. It must be based on proven and sound methodology. I can also say that an army of scientists are working on that. We talked about complexity, and it's very real. It isn't enough to say that we all experience it.

Official Languages committee  Before this expert committee met, we submitted questions. Given the large number of people, it would have been difficult to come up with such questions at the time of the meeting. The objective was to present the various complexities of enumerating the rights-holders. Obviously, the questions submitted were debated and discussed.

Official Languages committee  They were questions that could be included on the questionnaire, and we need to agree on the wording.

Official Languages committee  That was the main goal, since we knew it was a complex issue. We wanted the best exchanges possible. Several discussions did not go in the same direction. Perceptions were different depending on the region where someone lives in the country or according to skills. We had very enlightened opinions from legal experts.

Official Languages committee  That's correct.

Official Languages committee  It had already been recognized that it was relevant. The goal was to find the best methodology.

Official Languages committee  No. We discussed it with members of the advisory committee. The reason we put together a solid team of methodologists and skilled analysts from Statistics Canada was just to examine alternative methods. In 2016, close to 70% of the population completed the electronic questionnaire.

Official Languages committee  We proposed a number of questions for enumeration. I think we came to a pretty clear understanding of which questions we should at least try to test. Of course, following the advice of the members of the advisory committee, these questions have been changed. There have been discussions about whether we should take this or that direction.

Official Languages committee  In fact, the committee did not influence Statistics Canada's decision to move forward. Statistics Canada was already moving forward thanks to the support, suggestions and advice of the committee.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  Absolutely.

Official Languages committee  QCGN did not exist at the time. That was in 1991.