[NOS2Go4Me]

You guys might be interested in this. I kinda got on the warpath with this one.

My original text, filled with attitude no less:
To the Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada:

I find it deplorable that a Canadian 'subsidiary' of an American defense
contractor would be given the final nod for our 2006 Census.

There's no need for an insult of this magnitude being levelled at
Canadian-grown software houses. NAFTA has been proven time and time
again to be biased in favour of Americans, and I see no need as to why
we need to support a foreign economy that already has our
more-than-eager support.

I would have been heartened and even eager to take part in a survey that
was designed, implemented and conducted by a Canadian-grown company.
Sadly, this isn't the case.

I'd also like some assurances that the database containing this
information that we have all submitted as law-abiding Canadian citizens
will never leave Canadian datacenters. To think that the statistical
information of Canadians is being kept on a US-based server farm is
well... unthinkable.

In closing, I do hope that the Canadian government is not playing a very
dangerous game of 3-card Monte with Canadian citizens' personal data. No
matter who our neighbours are, and no matter the perceived burdens of
our relations... our first and foremost duties should always be to our
fellow Canadians.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.

And the reply followed from a secretary:

Dear Mr. Weichel:

On behalf of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, I would like to thank you for your e-mail, in which you raised an issue which falls within the portfolio of the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry. The Prime Minister always appreciates receiving correspondence on subjects of importance to Canadians.

Please be assured that the statements you made have been carefully reviewed. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your e-mail to Minister Bernier, so that he too may be made aware of your comments. I am certain that the Minister will give your views every consideration. For more information on the Government's initiatives, you may wish to visit the Prime Minister's Web site, at http://www.pm.gc.ca.

L.A. Lavell
Executive Correspondence Officer
for the Prime Minister's Office

And it was indeed CCed to that minister. Who then emailed me.

Dear Mr.Weichel:

The Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada, the Honourable Maxime
Bernier, has asked me to respond to your email of May 10, 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 http://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


So... I'm fairly placated. That website was the one that got me writing, but as I revisit it... I'm fairly sure a lot of the "suspicions" are bunk.