Have trust in Statistics Canada

How utterly hypocritical of the banks, the NDP and the Conservatives to be complaining about having to provide Statistics Canada with information.

There is absolutely no question the data is stripped of all and any identifiers — so it is anonymous — and that it is needed for the good governance of the country.

Can you imagine banks doing business with you and not collecting information considered personal?

While I begrudge neither for collecting it, I have far greater trust in Statistics Canada.

An employee of Statistics Canada breaching trust (which can be simply no more than dropping a form on the sidewalk and it being found by a member of the public) can face a jail sentence.

A bank employee faces no such penalty, if any.

And yes, you don’t have to use a bank — you can choose to keep your money under your pillow. And by the way, they all use the data.

Larry Deters, Regina