Dear Ivan,
In your response you defend the tendering process.
The tendering PROCESS is of little concern to me.
The OUTCOME is.
I am vehemently opposed to actions that enrich corporations that are part of the American war machine.
I doubt it is possible for you to address my fundamental objection, communicated to you beginning in 2003 or 2004. (INSERT: Links to those communications follow the “Original Message”.)
Best wishes,
Sandra Finley
—–Original Message—–
From: Ivan.P.Fellegi@statcan.ca [mailto:Ivan.P.Fellegi@statcan.ca]
Sent: May 18
Cc: Jacques.Morin@a.statcan.ca; Lyne.St.John@a.statcan.ca
Subject: Count me out of the census!
Importance: High
The Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, has asked me to respond to your email of May 3, 2006.
I would like to assure you that Statistics Canada has taken a number of important safeguards to protect the privacy and confidentiality of your Census responses. These safeguards have been independently assessed by IT security specialists and the entire assessment process overseen by a Task Force headed by the former Auditor General of Canada, Mr. Denis Desautels. The task force was clear in their conclusion: “Canadians can trust that the information gathered during the 2006 Census will be secure.” The entire report is available at www.census2006.ca. I would also like to expand on some of the security safeguards in place for the 2006 Census.
Statistics Canada is completely responsible for every phase of conducting the 2006 Census. The contract with Lockheed Martin Canada, IBM Canada and Transcontinental Printing Canada is strictly for the provision of hardware, software and printing services. No contractor ever has access to or is in possession of Census responses.
Census information is, at all times, under the complete care and full control of Statistics Canada employees. In fact, all census databases, facilities and networks containing confidential data are physically isolated from any networks outside Statistics Canada. Therefore, even if a request were ever to be made by an external authority to any contractor for confidential data, it would be physically impossible for a contractor to comply, given that they are never in possession of census responses.
Public Works and Government Services Canada awarded the contract through an open, transparent, and stringent competitive bidding process following all the laws and regulations pertaining to procurement.
Statistics Canada has relied on the private sector in the past to provide equipment and services to conduct a Census in a cost effective manner, without compromising confidentiality, and the 2006 Census is no exception.
Census data are a vital source of information for decisions by governments and private citizens and businesses that affect the daily lives of Canadians. The data must be complete and accurate for these purposes. We have put so much emphasis on security and confidentiality measures regarding contractor provided systems to ensure that Canadians can complete their Census questionnaires in full confidence of these measures. It is critical that we all be part of the Canadian family portrait that is the Census. I urge you to be part of that portrait.
Thank you for your interest in the census.
Ivan P. Fellegi
Chief Statistician of Canada
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EARLIER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE CHIEF STATISTICIAN, IVAN FELLEGI:
- 2003-11-02 Resistance starts, Letters of Protest and News Reports (includes my communication to him)
- 2004-02-15: Nova Scotia Quakers to Minister Responsible for the census re Lockheed Martin contracts
- 2005-11-24 Follow-up: Cdn Census outsourced to Lockheed Martin & Angry Canadian pays off Visa with pennies (this posting has a letter from the Chief Statistician to Canadians re the census.)