from The Canadian Jewish News:

Jewish orgs decry plan to scrap long-form census

Jewish and other faith communities have denounced it, the head of Statistics Canada resigned over it, and hundreds of national charities, businesses, think-tanks and social service agencies are fuming because of the federal government’s recent decision to scrap the 2011 mandatory long-form census.

… The move prompted immediate reaction from groups across the country, including a rebuke from the Jewish community. A July 14 letter from Canadian Jewish Congress to Prime Minister Stephen Harper … exhorted him to reverse the new policy on the long-form census.

The letter was signed by leaders of major Canadian Jewish federations, including UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Federation CJA in Montreal, UIA Federations Canada, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Atlantic Jewish Council.

“Jewish federations and service agencies across Canada have long regarded responses to the census’ ethnic and religious identity questions, especially from the more-detailed long form, as a critical source of information for planning, fundraising and implementing programs and services that support… the cultural, social, health care, educational, housing, recreational and spiritual needs of our communities,” Congress wrote.