Member Bulletin 264 - July 21, 2010
We need CMA Members to take an additional step in our Save Our Census campaign. Last week, we asked you to write the Federal Industry Minister and to request that the federal government reconsider its plan to axe the mandatory long-form version of the census in 2010. This week, we would urge CMA Members to also write their local Member of Parliament (contact information below). The House of Commons’ Industry Committee is expected to meet next week to consider the issue and we need to make sure individual MPs know how this will impact their constituents.
Background:
This issue continues to receive widespread media attention as the federal government threatens to scrap the mandatory long-form version of the census in 2011. As reported in last Friday’s CMA Weekly Watching Brief and Member Bulletin #263, such a move by government would have very serious repercussions for marketers because the data gathered in the detailed form contains crucial demographic information that marketers use to determine what products and services to market to whom and to where.
Member Action:
CMA encourages those members who have not already done so to write their local Member of Parliament as well as the Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement. Two key points should be emphasized in your letters:
- The mandatory detailed census form is a valuable source of information to business and supports the growth of the Canadian economy, jobs and its tax base.
- The data allows marketers to better identify consumers’ interests and helps to reduce irrelevant marketing offers and market surveys.
For a full list of MPs by riding, please visit the Parliamentary website.
(CMA Members may wish to use the letter which the Association sent the Minister as a guide.)
Letters to the Minister should be sent by mail to:
The Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A OA6
or by email to the Minister at: Clement.T@parl.gc.ca.
