Ananova :



Man won't give census details to neighbour

A Canadian rancher says he would rather go to jail than hand his census form to the federal government.

Grey Alexander was outraged to learn personal information demanded by the census would be collected by a neighbour, and not an official.

Now the 65-year-old from High River in Alberta is daring the government to charge him for refusing to return the pamphlet.

But Jerry Page, director of statistics in Canada's prairie region, says the government would not rush into a confrontation.

Canadians have been threatened with fines and jail time if they do not fill out the census, but Mr Alexander does not care.

"The enumerator knows I've got the form and that I'm non-compliant. I would invite them to charge me. The only way the situation will get fixed is to fight it," he says.

Jerry Page, director of Statistics Canada's Prairie region, says the government will not rush into a confrontation.

Mr Page says he is convinced the local residents used in Canada to conduct the census would honour their oaths to keep the data private, reports the Calgary Sun. http://www.canoe.ca/CalgaryNews/

Certain demographic information is required by statistics Canada to track population movement etc. This has been the norm for many years; however, in recent years the so called long form asks for much more information and very personal information at that. The long form goes out to one in five households. In addition to names gender date of birth and relationship of household members the long form asks, where do you work, your income, what kind of car do you drive, and on and on. I do not blame this individual for objecting to this inquisition and can understand why he would not wish to hand over such information in such great detail to a neighbour to boot. I hope that this story will encourage others to do the same.

I agree this is an inquistion (this UN census form)and to be collected by a neighbour is the final straw. You know that the feds don't want to rush into a confrontation out in Alberta any time soon. They have no support out here and only one seat. We hate them and they know it. Let them get stuffed!