Census form stays voluntary, minister says

You may recall that back in the summer Canada's bishops joined many others in urging the federal government to reconsider its plan to abolish the mandatory long-form census.

Much of the information in the census is “most helpful to all faith groups,” said Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) president Saint-Jerome Bishop Pierre Morissette in a letter to Industry Minister Tony Clement. Now Clement has responded, saying he's confident the new process, which will see a voluntary long form but sent to more people, will be helpful.