’We have not been able to get a response’

Before publicly tabling its proposal this morning, the National Statistics Council tried to speak directly with the Industry Minister.

"We had tried to communicate with the minister . . . through formal channels to move toward a solution," Ian McKinnon, chair of the council, said in an interview. "We have not been able to get a response. We felt that this was exceptionally important and we had no other avenue left to us."