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Statistics Act




The Statistics Act gives Statistics Canada the authority to "collect, compile, analyze, abstract, and publish information on the economic, social and general conditions of the country and its citizens."

To balance Statistics Canada's extensive powers to collect information, the Act establishes the legal requirement for the agency to protect the confidentiality of respondents to Statistics Canada surveys. The legislation makes a formal commitment to respondents that the information they provide will never be released to anyone in a form that will identify them without their authorization.


LEGAL REQUIREMENT


Citizens who refuse to participate in providing information, or who provide false information, have committed an offence under the Statistics Act and are liable on Summary Conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or/and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.


REFERENCES


Statistics Act