The original media reports are at the very bottom.
In early 2004 more than 3,000 emails of protest were received by Statistics Canada.
==============================
Sun 11/2/2003 from Mel Hurtig:
Now let’s turn to the census fiasco. Many of you will have received copies of Bill Blaikie’s questions and comments in the House, or seen them on www.vivelecanada.ca.
A couple of points need to be emphasized. It’s true that NAFTA made it necessary to open up the RFP to American firms, as Rock, Fellegi et al keep pointing out, BUT there was no necessity for a RFP in the first place!!! As I indicated previously, Statistics Canada should be developing the technology, the methodology, the implementation THEMSELVES. Given the many millions of dollars they have agreed to pay Lockheed Martin, there is ZERO reason why they could not have done so using good, talented Canadian experts.
Note the egregious repeated explanation (this time by yet another cabinet minister), that Lockheed Martin is a Canadian company!!!
Vive has sent over 2,000 letters to Rock, Chretien and Fellegi re the census. Visit vive and add your name if you haven’t already. Vive has had an amazing 50,000 plus hits in October, a spectacular figure for such a new site.
=========================================
—– Original Message —–
From: Mel Hurtig
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 6:12 PM
Dear Dr. Fellegi:
As you know, I am a long-time fan of yours and of Statistics Canada. All the more reason I am appalled by your decision re Lockheed Martin. This said, I am certainly not blaming you for the poorly-negotiated NAFTA agreement and its national treatment provisions.
Unfortunately, I am not one bit impressed by your assurances re the data that will be collected in the next census given the involvement of the giant American defence contractor.
There are many reasons for this, beginning with the Patriot Act and the way it has already been used in the U.S., Mexico and in South America. As you know, Mr. Ashcroft and associates can request that Lockheed Martin hand over all data to them and not only will this happen but you will never know that it has happened. Rest assured that Lockheed Martin will have whatever access to your data that they wish. To believe otherwise is at best wishful thinking.
I remain quite unimpressed by your conclusion that it was necessary to bring in a foreign firm. You should have embarked on a research program allowing S.C. to become the world leader in the necessay technology. You haven’t been rated so highly in international comparisons in the past because you relied on paying tens of millions of dollars to non-citizens to do your work for you. Moreover, you know as well as I do how many truly talented Canadians work for Statscan. In my opinion you had lots of time to develop the required technologies yourself. Surely, given what you are planning to pay Lockheed Martin, money was not a problem.
I would like to once again correct you. Lockheed Martin is NOT a Canadian firm. Your own Corporations Returns Act makes that quite clear. You are quite foolish to contend otherwise and I am disappointed that you do so so stubbornly.
No doubt by now you are aware of just how outraged Canadians are as a result of this unfortunate decision.Frankly, I would have thought that you would have anticipated the anger. It’s so incredibly symbolic of how we’ve gone wrong in this country since 1984.
Lastly, you’ve done a good job of the census in the past. There’s zero reason why you couldn’t do a good or even better job in the future. This is a serious mistake that I’m certain you will regret in the future, if you don’t already.
Mel Hurtig
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From: T. Bennett Finley
Dear Dr. Fellegi:
As a Canadian I am appalled at the decision of StatsCan to use a US firm in the processing of Census data.
As someone who has worked on two censuses for StatsCan I know how sensitive the Canadian People are to the issue of confidentiality of their personal information. One of the most difficult and important tasks at census time was to convince Canadians that their information would never be shared with any other government department or agency especially Revenue Canada.
Because we who worked in the census truly believed in the promise of StatsCan that data would always remain confidential, we were able to convince most Canadians of this. I even had one discussion with Roy Romanow over this very issue.
Canadians will be most shocked when they discover an U.S. firm will have access to this information. I believe, and I think most Canadians also believe, that the U.S. government and its agencies such as the CIA and FBI, will be able to obtain any information that a U.S. corporation is able to access.
Sovereignty is a much discussed issue in Canada, sometimes mistakenly over issues that really do not effect our sovereignty, but this one does and will be seen to so do by most. There is no reason that StatsCan should have to go to outside countries to provide data services that can well be handled at home.
I do not believe you really realize what a media feast will be created when this Lockheed Martin involvement becomes an issue at the time of the next Census. The issue will be discussed by every TV outlet and newspapers throughout Canada. StatsCan and the Government of Canada will devote untold time in handling this issue. I assure you of this.
Please, please, turn back while you still can.
Respectfully,
T. Bennett Finley
2605 Estey Drive
Saskatoon, Sask. S7J 2V4
3063733973 finld AT sasktel.net
=================================
From Sandra Finley to Ivan Felligi, Chief Statistician:
SUBJECT: awarding of Canadian Census to Lockheed
Dear Dr. Fellegi;
(I am also communicating with Allan Rock, Minister Responsible for Statscan.)
I am incredulous and disturbed that you would even consider putting the Canadian census into the hands of Lockheed Corporation. In the past the Government has been capable of handling the job. If you cannot do the job, it is likely because you are planning to gather more information than necessary, in which case re-consideration would be productive.
Do not be so naive as to think that I, for one, will provide data to a census orchestrated by Lockheed Corporation, even if under threat of going to jail for failure to comply with census requirements.
Please tell me
(1) how awarding the contract for Canadian census work to Lockheed Martin helps to strengthen the Canadian economy.
(2) how awarding this contract to Lockheed helps to develop Canadian expertise and confidence.
(Question for Mr. Rock) (3) how much money Lockheed Martin contributes to the Liberal party and its members.
By my observation, by hiring Lockheed to do the Canadian census you:
1) Send jobs, profits and tax revenues outside Canada. Parent companies are known to benefit substantially by setting up subsidiaries in foreign countries (Canada in this case).
2) Make the statement that we can’t do the job ourselves; other people can do it better.
3) Add to our dependency on the United States.
Thank-you for your time and consideration.
Yours truly,
Sandra Finley
==================================================
from Melva Armstrong:
… Bill Blaikie (on behalf of many of us Canadians who are questioning why Stats Can is not doing this work itself) has been asking the Liberal gov’t to explain why Lockheed Martin was awarded this contract. From Hansard:
Bill Blaikie pressures government on Lockheed Martin
Government Contracts
Thursday October 9, 2003
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.
We have heard a troubling rumour that Statistics Canada has awarded a multi-million dollar contract to an American corporation to do the dress rehearsal for the census in 2005 and subsequently the census itself. That corporation, we have heard, is Lockheed Martin, one of the biggest munitions companies in the world.
I wonder if the minister could tell us whether or not this is in fact true and, if it is true, why the Liberal government has decided to award such a contract.
Hon. Allan Rock (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, one thing I can assure the House is that Statistics Canada will continue to do its job according to the worldclass standards that it has always achieved. We will make certain of that. It has a well deserved reputation for excellence and it will continue to work to deserve that reputation.
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, let the House take note that the Minister of Industry did not answer my question and did not deny that such a contract has been offered.
Given that this is an American munitions corporation that is actually all wound up with the star wars thing, I wonder if the minister could explain to us the connection between star wars and Statistics Canada and tell us whether or not the government is involved in the letting of a contract of this kind to an American corporation. Would he answer the question? Surely he knows what is going on in his own department.
Hon. Allan Rock (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is working himself into an agitated state when he should focus instead on the real purpose of all this, which is to make sure we get statistics numbers and a census that we can rely upon. Statistics Canada will continue to do what is necessary to achieve just that.
Bill rose again in the same question period on this.
Thursday October 9, 2003
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, my question is again to the Minister of Industry.
I will allow for the fact that perhaps his first answer to my question might have been based on not knowing what the situation was. Some time has passed.
Could the minister tell us whether or not such a contract has been awarded to Lockheed-Martin for the census. If it has, could he tell us in which wing of the Pentagon all this information on Canadians will be stored?
Hon. Allan Rock (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, as with any other such crown agency, contracts awarded by Statistics Canada are awarded after a full bidding process where value for money and the contract price is evaluated.
I have every confidence Statistics Canada used that process in its entirety in this and every other case
Government Contracts
Friday October 10, 2003
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I want to re-engage the Minister of Industry with respect to the contract given to Lockheed Martin for the Canadian census.
Yesterday the minister said on the way out of the House that the trade agreements made him do it. He knows that the trade agreements did no such thing. The trade agreements do not force the government to contract out the census to anyone.
I want to ask him why he is hiding behind the trade agreements. While he is at it, if he takes the trade agreements so seriously, can he tell us why the government does not take arms control treaties seriously enough that it is participating in star wars and negotiating with the Americans over NMD? If it took those treaties seriously–
The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Public Works and Government Services.
Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the hon. gentleman has just said, the project in question does indeed fall subject to the rules of the NAFTA and the WTO. Industry participation, according to the rules of the trade agreement, were sought by a letter of interest.
The RFP was published on the Merx system from September 4, 2002 to the closing date of November 4, 2002. Proposals were received. The proposal from Lockheed Martin was judged to be the best of those proposals at the best price. It was indeed adjudicated by an independent third party.
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the trade agreements do not force the government to put out an RFP in the first place. This is something that could be done by the government, by Statistics Canada. There is no need to contract it out in the first place and the trade agreement does not force the government to do that.
I want to ask the minister in charge, does he not think that the knowledge by Canadians that this is going to be done by a big American multinational will cause them concerns about confidentiality and about privacy? Does he not expect that there will be a lot less compliance with the census than there has been in the past? Given the mistake that the government is about to make, will it rescind this contract immediately?
Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, there are in fact stringent provisions in the contract to ensure that the security of Canadians is properly respected and that the whole process with respect to the census is conducted with complete integrity.
Government Contracts
Friday October 24, 2003
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it seems odd that some of those who support the new Liberal leader complain when a crown corporation gets money to do something that is long overdue in this country, but they are silent about the awarding of a contract to Lockheed Martin to do the census or for that matter, the contract that was awarded to Lockheed Martin to do health information services for our Canadian armed forces.
Has the Deputy Prime Minister had a chance to look at the Lockheed Martin file? Can he tell the House today that this contract will be rescinded and the census will be done in Canada, by Canadians, where it belongs?
Hon. Andy Mitchell (Secretary of State (Rural Development) (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the reality is that it is a Canadian subsidiary that will be conducting the census. The information will be maintained in Canada. It will be conducted in Canada. It will be a Canadian enterprise that provides a valuable service to Canadians, which we have always done in terms of the census.
Government Contracts
Wednesday October 29, 2003
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not need more information, if they are up to their you know what in alligators. They do not want the Liberals counting the alligators. They want them to do something about it.
I have a question is for the Minister of Public Works and it has to do with the awarding of the census contract to Lockheed Martin.
I have information from a competitor of Lougheed Martin that it received this contract, not through due process, but sometime after the RFP had been initiated and others had gone through the process. However, Lougheed Martin showed up at the end and received the contract.
Could the Minister of Public Works undertake to look into this and report back to the House as to why that American corporation received favourable treatment in that way?
Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the information that the hon. gentleman has just described is certainly at odds with the information I have. He has asked me if I will look into what he has suggested. I certainly will do that, and I will get back to him if there is anything further to report.
=============================================
Thu 10/30/2003 I (Sandra Finley) received this communication from Dr. Fellegi:
From: Ivan.P.Fellegi@statcan.ca
Statistics Canada would like to clarify and provide additional information concerning the contracting out portion of the 2006 Census with private industry. First of all, I would like to emphasize that only 20% of the work for the 2006 Census will be contracted out while the remaining 80% is being done by Statistics Canada. The distribution, collection, follow-up and storage of questionnaires will be done strictly by Statistics Canada.
Important improvements and significant changes in the way census data are collected and captured are required for the 2006 Census. These changes will move the census from what is now a highly decentralised, manual collection operation, to a more centralised and automated approach while addressing the issues of privacy, security, confidentiality and the provisions of an Internet response option for Canadians. However, these and other improvements require the implementation of a very complex logistics and control system.
Why did we decide to contract out a portion of the software development for the 2006 Census? Simply because, after a painstaking review, we concluded that we lacked the expertise needed. The 2006 Census clearly has to offer the option of Internet filing of census returns, and this has to be integrated with the traditional paper filing option which, of course, must also be offered. Further complicating the logistics is the fact that we will be mailing, for the first time, the census questionnaires to about 65% of all households in Canada. This, together with the need to know at all times who completed and who did not their census forms (in order to initiate timely follow-up of those who did not do so) leads to exceptionally complex logistics.
Traditionally census returns have been key-entered but that option will no longer be available in 2006. As a result, it will be necessary to introduce the scanning of the paper returns into the 2006 Census – and, again, integrate all of that with the Internet-filed returns. The complexity of these highly technical operations was entirely outside our range of past experience. When one considers the fact that the census must go almost flawlessly (because we do not have a second chance), it became abundantly clear that contracting out was the only realistic option. In addition to the technical complexities, we also conducted a very thorough cost benefit analysis of the “buy or make” option, to determine the appropriate approach for undertaking the significant systems development and operational activities required for the 2006 Census. The factors considered included cost, timeliness, integration, risk and the availability of resources/expertise and while not the only factor in our decision, the business case was clearly in favour for the private sector. Incidentally, the same conclusion was reached not only by our US counterpart, but also by the Office of National Statistics in the UK for their census systems development and processing activities.
After a lengthy consultation process with industry, proposals were invited by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) through a Request for Proposal (RFP). Critical security and confidentiality requirements were built into the RFP to ensure the protection of census returns. Indeed, these safeguards will be even higher in 2006 than they were in 2001 or in earlier censuses.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement and World Trade Organization Agreement regulations that governed this procurement, non-Canadian based firms were eligible to submit a bid. All of the bidders were Canadian firms, although several were US owned. The evaluation of proposals was very rigorous, with no opportunity for biasing the results either in favour of, or against, any one bidder. In addition, an independent fairness monitor certified that the selection process followed the terms of the RFP and that the process was fair and objective to all bidders. Through this process, PWGSC awarded the contract to Lockheed Martin Canada Inc. to carry out activities in support of the 2006 Census. The firm will be leading a consortium consisting of IBM Canada and Transcontinental Printing Inc. Canada and ADECCO Employment Services Ltd Canada.
Lockheed Martin specifically has a successful track record in developing and implementing solutions in a census context and has access to international expertise based on lessons learned in the United States and United Kingdom censuses. Statistics Canada is capitalizing on this existing experience and investment.
Statistics Canada will maintain full control of all aspects of the census. Indeed, the data collected from Canadians will, at all times, be under the care and full control of Statistics Canada and everyone working on the census will, as always, be subject to the provisions and penalties of the Statistics Act. Only census agents who are sworn to secrecy under the Statistics Act – and subject to considerable penalties should their oath be violated (including imprisonment of up to six months) – will have access to individual census information. Career employees will at all times be in charge of every aspect of census operations
All contractors will be security screened, and sworn in under the Statistics Act. As such, they will become Statistics Canada employees, subject to all the sanctions of the Act.
Stringent safeguards will be in place to ensure that only information required for the processing operation is accessible by the contractor. The census processing site will be strictly isolated from external networks, so unauthorised transmission of census data would be physically impossible. In addition, all sites will be subject to 24-hour supervision by our career employees. Needless to say, data will never be processed or stored outside the country. Processed data will be stored at Statistics Canada premises.
Statistics Canada has a well-earned reputation for quality statistics, which in turn depends on the trust of Canadians. It would never endanger that reputation by exposing to the slightest risk the confidential data that its respondents provide – let alone exposing it to access by any foreign country. The confidentiality of 2006 Census returns will be as stringently guarded as in the past; in fact, technology allows us to implement even better safeguards. We are ready to expose our plans to any expert scrutiny.
Ivan P. Fellegi
Chief Statistician of Canada
=============================================
(S.F. distributed into network Oct 21/03)
Subject: Strengthening the Canadian economy and society
Below: newspaper reports “Federal government acknowledges U.S. defence firm (Lockheed) doing Canada’s census”. Compliments of Allan Rock.
Let me connect a few dots and tell you what I’m doing on this one.
– The Meridian Dam exercise taught the importance of safeguarding control of our WATER resource against the efforts of transnational corporations and local short-sighted self-interest which would exploit that resource, not for the common or long-term good. As I see it, in order to maintain control of our communities and environment in the face of globalization/centralization it is essential to fight every effort that will weaken us. Build strength.
– Recall the article that explained how transnational companies set up a subsidiary in Canada to gain significant tax advantages? Tax is paid on Revenues minus Expenses. Some parent U.S. company’s dictate that the Canadian subsidiary purchase specified goods and services from the parent company at a price set by the parent. In some cases those prices are greatly inflated. The Canadian subsidiary thereby has substantially reduced earnings and pays little tax to the Canadian Government. The American parent company of course, makes rather nice profits.
– We know something about what makes economically and socially healthy communities:
It is important for people to PRACTICE a particular skill. Without practice the skill is lost. A sure way to lose a skill is to become dependent upon someone else to perform the task for you. Business skills are not exempt. If, by way of example, you buy only imported pre-fab houses, over time local people lose the know-how to build their own homes. They become completely dependent upon the whims and prices of the marketplace/outsiders. Inuit communities are a prime example of the decay that occurs. Not only is the knowledge base lost, but the jobs are exported and self-confidence is drained. Welfare is the panacea. (“colonizing” or colonialism. You should give thought to the questions “Are we being colonized and if so, by whom or what?”. In order for a country to be colonized there have to be collaborators at the top and ignorance in the population about what is going on.)
– Governments in Canada have made decisions such as those which favour truck transportation of goods over rail transport, congesting and breaking down the highway infrastructure, requiring more and bigger highways, contributing to global warming and the decline of communities. If we have learned anything it is that handing over responsibility to others for decision-making guarantees that the decisions will be made in the interests of “others”.
– I have a choice. This Lockheed incident is sufficiently serious to me, to warrant 3 small actions, to be added to the actions of others who are equally concerned. Below you will find a web-site you can email from, another option.
(1) I phoned and emailed Allan Rock’s office. They tried to put me off to Statistics Canada. Don’t let them do it; the Minister is responsible: 613-995-9001. Allan Rock’s e-mail address is minister.industry@ic.gc.ca
(2) Ralph Goodale is the sole Liberal Member-of-Parliament from Saskatchewan. He is candidate to be the Deputy Prime Minister in the upcoming government of Paul Martin. He is also Minister of Public Works and partly responsible, as the exchange in the House of Commons shows. I think he is lobbiable. Telephone +1 (819) 997-5421 (Ottawa). … Who is your MP?
(3) Send information on into email networks.
====================
The Vive Le Canada web-site below has a letter you might like. It makes some good points.
My letter to Rock:
SUBJECT: awarding of Canadian Census to Lockheed
Dear Minister Responsible Allan Rock,
Canadian census data is sensitive and private. I am incredulous and disturbed that you would even consider putting it into the hands of Lockheed. You need to find a way to keep the census work in independent Canadian hands. The Government itself should be doing the work. In the past the Government has been capable of handling the job. If you cannot do the job, it is likely because you are planning to gather more information than necessary, in which case “trim your sails”.
Do not be so naive as to think that I, for one, will provide data to Lockheed, even if under threat of going to jail for failure to comply with census requirements.
Please tell me
(1) how awarding the contract for Canadian census work to Lockheed Martin helps to strengthen the Canadian economy.
(2) how awarding this contract to Lockheed helps to develop Canadian expertise and confidence, and therefore business potential.
(3) how much money Lockheed Martin contributes to the Liberal party and its members.
By my observation, by hiring Lockheed to do the Canadian census you:
1) Send jobs, profits and tax revenues outside Canada. Parent companies are known to benefit substantially by setting up subsidiaries in foreign countries (Canada in this case).
2) Make the statement that we can’t do the job ourselves; other people can do it better.
3) Add to our dependency on the United States.
Thank-you for your time and consideration.
Yours truly, Sandra Finley
===========================================
SUPPORTING MATERIAL
Industry Minister Allan Rock has awarded U.S. military company Lockheed Martin the contract to prepare a 2005 test run of the next Canadian census. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures ballistic missiles and other weapons of mass destruction, is also a prime candidate to receive a contract to do the entire Canadian census in 2006.
Vive le Canada.ca has created a form that allows users to send an email to Industry Minister Allan Rock and oppose giving Lockheed Martin the contract for the Canadian census in 2006. A sample email is provided, and users can edit it if they like. Vive le Canada.ca is also threatening a boycott of the census should Lockheed Martin get the contract.
To participate in the action, visit: (link no longer valid)
It only takes 15 seconds to make a difference. Let’s stop the Americanization of the Canadian census!
Sincerely,
Susan Thompson and Vive le Canada.ca
For more information:
U.S. Defence Contractor to Count Canadian Heads (Oct. 9) TEXT BELOW (link no longer valid)
Federal government acknowledges U.S. defence firm doing Canada’s census
(Oct. 9) TEXT BELOW
Census at risk if U.S. firm in on it, critics say
Census deal “shocks” citizens
U.S. defence contractor to count Canadian heads
Canadian Press
UPDATED AT 8:51 PM EDT Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003
Ottawa — An American military contractor will carry out most or part of the next Canadian census, the NDP said Thursday — a charge the federal government didn’t deny.
Lockheed-Martin produces ballistic missile-defence systems, advanced gun systems, land attack missiles — and now they’ll help Ottawa compile information about Canadians, New Democrat MP Bill Blaikie told the House of Commons.
The U.S.-based multinational company will work on the 2006 census, Mr. Blaikie said.
He called it his worst nightmare — a U.S. defence contractor getting detailed information on Canada — and asked the government to confirm that a contract had been signed.
Industry Minister Allan Rock refused to answer the question directly, saying only that Statistics Canada will ensure a thorough census.
Mr. Blaikie said such a contract would raise serious privacy issues such as confidential data being stored outside the country.
===================================
canada news
Thursday, Oct 09, 2003
Federal government acknowledges U.S.-based defence firm doing Canada’s census
OTTAWA (CP) – They make land-attack missiles, ballistic-missile defence systems, and now this U.S.-based military manufacturer will help produce Canada’s next census.
Lockheed Martin has been hired to help the federal government gather information about Canadians for the 2006 census, Industry Minister Allan Rock acknowledged Thursday.
He said there was nothing to worry about. “I assume they have expertise that will enable them to perform the contract,” Rock said outside the House of Commons. “Canadians will be involved in the performance of the work because it’s a Canadian subsidiary that will be doing it.”
Best known as a munitions and aeronautics manufacturer, the Colorado company has a Canadian subsidiary based in Kanata, Ont.
The company produces computer information systems and is actively involved in data management.
Rock didn’t specify how Lockheed Martin would contribute to the census, which every five years compiles and publishes data on Canadian residents.
However, one opposition critic said he had a few details – and said he finds the idea chilling.
“This goes even deeper than anything I would have imagined in my worst nightmare,” said New Democrat MP Bill Blaikie, who raised the issue in the Commons.
“Which wing of the Pentagon is this information going to be stored in?”
Blaikie said the company has been awarded a contract to help Statistics Canada prepare a 2005 test run of the census and is a prime candidate to receive a contract to do the entire census the next year.
Rock said free-trade rules and globalization automatically make Lockheed Martin a potential candidate for federal contracts.
“The whole bidding process is cut by the WTO and NAFTA (agreement), which requires that non-Canadian firms get to bid as well,” Rock said.
“The bidding process was carried on in accordance with Public Works rules and I assume the lowest bidder, for the best price, for the best quality got the job.”
He said he’s sure that the people involved in the decision were fully aware of Lockheed Martin’s role in weapons production. Details on the company’s products are listed on the company website, along with the corporate slogan: “We never forget who we’re working for!”
Eighty per cent of Lockheed Martin’s business is with the U.S. military and American government agencies.
Blaikie said the census contract would raise serious privacy issues such as confidential data being stored outside the country.
Canada has been buying aircraft from the company since 1939.
Officials from Lockheed Martin and Statistics Canada were not immediately available for comment.
© The Canadian Press, 2003