After all, who cares about a weakened system of national data? The average citizen, who marks the only x on the ballot that counts, likely agrees with the quote made famous by Mark Twain.
Statistics are for geeks. The complex numbers that form the basis for public policy decisions usually cause most people’s eyes to glaze over.
But Harper was an economist in his former life. Economists know the importance of statistics in accurate financial and policy forecasting. In that context, the decision to cancel the mandatory long-form census was not simply designed to pacify caucus Luddites.
If the national government does not have a clear and historically relevant picture of the nature and needs of its citizens, the design of national norms and programs is seriously impaired.
That fits the current Prime Minister’s agenda to a tee.
Harper has always been very open about his disdain for the role of government in the lives of Canadians.
Back in 1994, at a memorial dinner in honour of ultra-Conservative Colin Brown, Harper had this to say about the nature of government.
“Whether Canada ends up as one national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement is, quite frankly, secondary in my opinion.… And whether Canada ends up with one national government or two governments or 10 governments, the Canadian people will require less government no matter what the constitutional status or arrangement of any future country may be.”
In The Big Shift, the new book by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson, the authors paint a compelling picture about how Harper’s vision of pared-down government has already been embraced by Canadians.
The journalist and pollster conclude that the changing face of immigration in Canada has tilted the country toward more fiscal and social conservatism. Statistics Canada light will no longer be in a position to confirm or refute these findings.
With an increase of non-respondents, Statistics Canada was even forced to publish a disclaimer about the findings.
The agency is cautioning its voluntary National Household Survey, released last week, contains significant gaps in data for a number of geographic areas and groups, including aboriginals, immigrants and visible minorities.
Low response rates and resulting unreliable information in many areas means data were not reported for approximately 25 per cent of Statistics Canada’s 4,567 census subdivisions, or municipalities.
No data on one quarter of the municipalities in Canada certainly calls into the question the very validity of the survey.
That has raised the ire of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, whose president Karen Leibovici, expressed concern about the reliability of information in the Household Survey.
But the reduced clarity actually reinforces Harper’s plan to rework the relationship between the national government and provinces.
Statistics Canada’s inability to report on aboriginal communities will impact the bottom line in terms of federal fiduciary and financial responsibility.
With fewer identified aboriginals, the government can pare spending with little rebuttal.
The lack of national overview discourages provinces from acting collectively on issues like health planning and standards.
Weak data simply strengthens provincial resolve to go it alone, reinforcing Harper’s view that the national government should be butting out of most fields, especially equalization.
The Prime Minister’s views on the so-called culture of dependency in Atlantic Canada are well known.
He obviously believes Alberta is doing more than its fair share of the heavy lifting in the Canadian Confederation.
And Statistics Canada has historically provided the framework for accurate equalization decisions.
Population-based surveys must be accurate in order for government to ensure transfer payments are fair and equitable. But that assumes a national government that believes in equalization. Harper has consistently complained of the inequality of the current system.
In 2002, he promised to change national policy on this matter.
“As Prime Minister, I will take up this issue [fiscal imbalance].…I will not try to fix this with another one-off, side-deal with this or any other province. I will bring the provinces together so we can achieve real, substantial, and I might add final, progress on this matter. And I mean final.”
Part of the final solution involves undermining the data that informs government decision-making.
With one-quarter of Canada’s municipalities missing in action, the government will no longer have a clear picture of the country.
That is exactly what Harper had in mind in the first place.
Original Article
Source: hilltimes.com
Author: SHEILA COPPS
No comments:
Post a Comment