Can Canadian Long-Form Census Proceed without US Military Contractor Lockheed Martin?

Census Long Form, Lockheed Martin Corp, Privacy of Personal Information, StatsCan. (Reply to Janet’s question)

by Sandra Finley - The Battles

 

Janet asked: What’s your take . . .

It’s probably crazy to expect that anything can be done at this stage (census long form).

NONETHELESS! yesterday I sent a package of information to Prime Minister J Trudeau by Canada Post (cover letter at http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=15642 ).

This, after e-communications to the 2 ministers responsible:
Navdeep Bains, Innovation, Science & Development
Maryam Monsef, Democratic Institutions


To me, the communication I sent to the 2 Ministers (http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=15633) says:

• Coercion does not work (2011 – non-compliance is 11%)
• Openness is required. The Lockheed Martin problem has to be addressed. You cannot sweep it under the rug.
• Collaborative problem solving is required.
• Spin-doctoring doesn’t work. (I didn’t say, but should have: Neither does Deny, deny, deny work in a somewhat informed citizenry.)

I think the complete solution is more than getting rid of Lockheed Martin’s involvement. (Note that Lockheed doesn’t “process” the census and survey data. They have been involved with the data base at StatsCan.)

I have no doubt that NSA “back-door” access to the StatsCan data base is in place, through Lockheed’s involvement at StatsCan:

• The report by Ottawa Citizen on Security Conference in Ottawa, unequivocal statement that the Americans want access to the data on all Canadians.
• The Maclean’s report in which the “President for the Americas, Lockheed Martin” spells out how they are going to get what they want.
• Add to that the information leaked by Ed Snowden and Glenn Greenwald, include Assange.
• Add to that the spying culture that has arisen out of American imperialism.

I did not, but should have included in the documentation sent to the Government, the story of Ladar Levison:
2014-06-27 Ladar Levison: The American who shut down his business when he felt his government wanted too much
2014-05-29 Lavabit founder, Ladar Levison, fought 9-month legal battle with FBI

A few points:

• Getting rid of Lockheed Martin at StatsCan won’t remove the backdoor access to the data base.
• All credibility has been lost. You can’t trust what is said. Communications Consultants are about whitewashing and pushing an agenda. Their work is not judged by ethical standards. Truth and openness are obstacles. There are unethical quislings embedded in strategic positions in the bureaucracy, amongst the ethical and hard-working ones.
• We are “nice”. We are prone to forget “not nice”. At our peril. Lockheed Martin is a big player in the corporatocracy which is well described by John Perkins. I hope to soon email this link: http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=15531.

Janet – - if you haven’t read Confessions of an Economic Hitman by Perkins, take time to listen to the Youtube at the top of the posting. Perkins is legitimate, I did background checks. His work has been in the public domain for at least 8 years, and is supported.

4. Most citizens understand that elected officials don’t run the show: big corporations are doing it behind the scenes with their collaborators. Perkins enlightens as to their tactics. They are without scruples. We have to deal with that reality. And we are, through citizen movements big and small (Occupy, March Against Monsanto, Idle No More, Black Lives Matter, Dis-invest, #HaveNoFear; Committee For Future Generations; ad infinitum).

5. In light of point #4, in light of the troubling fact that in 2011 we re-elected the Harper Conservative Agenda, in light of the still rampant racism (the denigrating emails that are circulating about Muslims), in light of everything that mainstream media does not tell citizens, it is my opinion that Canadians will be making a tragic mistake if they agree to extinguish our Charter Right to Privacy of Personal Information.

“In fostering the underlying values of dignity, integrity and autonomy, it is fitting that s. 8 of the Charter should seek to protect a biographical core of personal information which individuals in a free and democratic society would wish to maintain and control from dissemination to the state.”

In answer to your question, the resolution of the debacle at StatsCan must include a solid defence of this Charter Right. It seems to me that many Canadians understand the danger inherent in allowing the state to build and maintain files that hold detailed personal information about them.

(Sorry – - never a “short” answer from me, Janet!)

/Sandra