Well before Statistics Canada set out to scoop up private banking information from 500,000 Canadians, it had already collected reams of corporate and individual tax forms and health records — part of its growing reliance on "administrative data" sources instead of traditional surveys.
Statistics Canada faces backlash over its data-collecting practices, compromising ongoing and future projects that assist the processes of compiling accurate data. Analysts note that the controversy could have been averted had agency been more open about what information collects and how is such information protected to Canadians. The agency replied that survey response rate had been declining lately which forces the agency to turn to new sources to acquire information like banking information compiled by other organizations. Additionally, former Statistics Canada officials join in the debate saying that private and sensitive information is carefully protected but the federal privacy commissioner observes that any government agency that manages private information needs to put preventive measures to prevent abuse.
