Axing long-form census does not resonate with Metro Vancouver Board

OTTAWA (NEWS1130) - Ottawa's decision to scrap the mandatory long-form census continues to draw criticism. The latest reaction comes from the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors.

Bill Morrell with the Board says the data gathered from the census is used to develop policies and programs targeting housing and homelessness issues. "I think our Board has been clear that they believe the information derived from the long-form census is absolutely critical in terms of the municipal and regional planning that we do, and so the loss of that information would not be something that we would welcome."

He says all levels of government use census information to set their budgets and implement regional programs. Economists have been virtually unanimous in saying that making the long-form voluntary will undermine the reliability of the numbers used for research and planning by hospitals, businesses and governments.