Aboriginal groups says census changes are unconstitutional

A coalition of Atlantic aboriginals is challenging the federal government’s decision to scrap the long form census before the Federal Court. Alex Smith, the lawyer representing the group, told the Court the change is unconstitutional, since it will compromise the government’s ability to carry out its constitutional duties to aboriginal people by skewing the data. “It’s not a representative survey if it’s not mandatory,” Smith said. The aboriginal groups hope the court will issue an injunction that would stop the new voluntary survey and reinstate the long-form census.

Toronto Star