Dear Editor,

I’m confused. The questions on the Census long-form are too intrusive to ask Canadians to answer, so the government is going to send a similar form to even more Canadians! Either the questions are legitimate or they are not. If they are, then why shouldn’t those who receive them be obliged to respond. If they are not, then clearly those who receive them should not respond. This government has been perfectly clear. In its opinion, the questions are not legitimate; therefore, anyone who receives a questionnaire should not respond. Although I find the questions perfectly acceptable, if I bow to the superior knowledge of my government, I should decline to complete it. What’s wrong with this picture?
By the way and just for information, the Employment Equity Act spells out the obligations of the federal government regarding employment equity. The term affirmative action is used in the United States of America, not in Canada.
This government’s propensity to make decisions with no consultation with experts or interested parties and no public debate is becoming frightening.

Helen Elder
Summerland