News Leader News
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- May 9, 2006
To the Editor;
Canadians are still suffering the aftermath of the Federal Liberals antics. We can, however, use the Census Forms that are being distributed to send the biggest protest to Ottawa.
There is a rapidly growing campaign across this Nation by an Organization called "COUNT ME OUT" by Vive la Canada who promote the boycott of the 2006 Canadian census for a very good reason.
As suggested, we can each send a letter of protest with the Census form in the envelope provided for our use. Statistics Canada has opened a whole kettle of worms which needs to squirm right back to them.
While it is billing itself to the world as a leader in gathering and sorting information, it appears that Stats Canada did not have the expertise to develop the necessary software and hardware to conduct the Census and defends the contract given to Lockheed Martin and its Canadian subsidiary.
Here lies the crux of the protest because they are the worlds largest defence contractor in the U.S. for making weapons of mass destruction and is leading the development of the Ballistic Missile Defense System which Canadians have rightly opposed and rejected.
Here is our chance to voice our concerns to the Politicians and object to this company that benefits from the Iraq war rather than by supporting them with Canadian Taxpayers money.
The NDP is the only political party that has called the Canadian Government to task over the Lockheed Martin census contract. Bill Blakie, M.P., continued to question the Liberal Government even after the contract was real.
Prior to the last election, NDP Dick Proctor, M.P. for Pollisor had a motion before the House calling for the cancellation of that census contract. With our new area NDP Representative we need to be ensured that he and the Federal NDP Party continue to stand up for Canadians in this matter.
Our Municipal Council in Princeton should also be concerned with our loss of Sovereignty, Privacy and Confidentiality issues relating to the illegality of the census and cease to promote it to please Stats Canada/USA.
There is considerable information on the Internet on this disconcerting subject but for those without a computer, or who feel they can't write a letter, please attach a copy of this letter, sign it and mail it with your census form. Talk to your friends and neighbours to inform them about the "Count Me Out" national campaign by Vivelecanada.ca.
In April 2003 the Liberal Government permitted Stats Canada's Census Test. Viva le Canada called attention to the national media and encouraged people to take action and boycott that illegal census.
Across this country people refused to fill out the census forms. There were over 3,000 e-mails sent to M.P. Alan Rock who was the Industry Minister, asking that our census information NOT be given to this Military contractor.
What assurance do we have that the Canadian census information won't end up in the hands of the U.S. Government under the U.S. Patriot Act and given to the 'Homeland Security' in Canada and USA?
Why should we fully trust Lockheed Martin Co. that has frequently been marred by bribery, corruption and Human Rights abuses?
You have every right to not fill out the census forms online but demand a printed Canada Census form if you must co-operate for a head count.
- Kay Hardy, Princeton
