THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CENSUS Introduction

During the summer of 2010 Prime the Conservatives were responding Focus Minister found himself to widespread—and in their view— Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s in the middle of a full-blown political legitimate privacy concerns from decision to scrap crisis stemming from a somewhat Canadians who resented being coerced the mandatory unlikely and surprising source. At the into providing personal information to long-form census in end of June the Conservative government federal bureaucrats under threat of fines June 2010 touched announced that it had decided to abolish or even jail time. off a nationwide the mandatory long-form census—a As the controversy grew over the storm of protest. detailed questionnaire that one in five month of July, Munir Sheikh, the This story examines the arguments Canadian households is required to widely respected head of Statistics for and against complete every 10 years. This decision Canada—the public body responsible for the government’s was to come into effect in time for the administering the census—announced controversial move, next census, slated for 2011. his resignation. He stated that he could its likely impact on The government’s move was quickly not support the government’s decision. Canadians’ lives, and met with protests from a wide variety of Sheikh’s resignation was a lightning-rod its potential political bodies, including business associations, for the growing movement to save the consequences. religious and ethnic organizations, and long-form census and led to increased social action groups across the country. political pressure on the government Quote They argued that the long-form census to reconsider its move before the next “The government was an essential tool for providing them census was to be held in 2011. does not think it with important information that they relied The leaders of the three federal is necessary for on in framing their policies and strategies. opposition parties even hinted that Canadians to provide In addition, they stated that detailed they might make the issue a matter of with the number of information about social and economic confidence when Parliament reconvened bedrooms in their trends was the lifeblood of an information in September 2011. A defeat on a matter home, or what time society like 21st-century Canada. of confidence would trigger a federal of the day they leave As the protests grew, the task of election, the fourth in six years. for work, or how long justifying the government’s policy fell By late summer 2010, it was clear it takes them to get on the shoulders of Industry Minister that the Conservatives did not intend to there. The government does not believe it is . Clement stated that a revisit their decision on the census— appropriate to force new voluntary questionnaire—which despite the intensity of the opposition it Canadians to divulge would be sent to one-third of Canadian had generated. But the looming threat detailed personal households for completion—would of a non-confidence vote coupled with information under be just as effective as the previous lackluster results in the polls were threat of prosecution.” mandatory survey, which only had creating increased pressure on the Harper — Industry Minister Tony Clement (The to be completed by 20 per cent of government as the fall “political season” Globe and Mail, July households. He also made the case that in Ottawa was about to begin. 15, 2010) To Consider 1. How much have you heard in the media about the federal government’s decision to scrap the mandatory long-form census? 2. Why did you think the move generated such widespread protests from a wide cross-section of organizations and individuals? 3. In your opinion will the government’s decision on the census influence the way Canadians vote in the next federal election?

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 6 THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CENSUS Video Review

Did you know . . . Pre-viewing Questions The census is With a partner or in a small group discuss the following questions and write conducted by the your responses in the spaces provided. federal government agency Statistics 1. What is a census? Why is the information gathered from a census Canada (StatsCan). important to Canadians? You can find the StatsCan Web site at www12.statcan.ca/ census-recensement/ index-eng.cfm.

2. How important is a citizen’s right to privacy? What information could be Further Research considered too personal for the government to ask individual Canadians? Learn more about the census controversy by watching a short video clip from Global national news on July 14, 2010, at www. vancouversun.com/ 3. a) Should completing a census form be a duty expected of all Canadians or news/canada/Video+Ce nsus+change+controve simply a matter of personal choice? Explain your response. rsy/3279021/story.html.

b) If you believe it is a duty, then what do you think is a suitable consequence for those who refuse or fail to complete the census form?

Viewing Questions As you watch the video respond to the questions in the spaces provided.

1. How often are censuses conducted in Canada? When was the last one held?

2. When did the first census take place?______

3. What is the difference between the long- and short-form censuses?

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 7 4. With what is the government replacing the previous long-form census? How will it differ from its predecessor?

5. Why is Dr. Paul Hebert critical of the government’s decision to scrap the long-form census?

6. How many questions are asked in the long-form census? To what issues do they relate?

7. What is the main reason the government has given for its decision? How persuasive is it?

8. What does Liberal MP Marc Garneau mean when he accuses the Conservative government of acting in an “ideological” way in its move to abolish the long-form census?

9. Summarize the viewpoints of the following people interviewed in the video on the census issue: a) Khaled Abdulghani and Lina Yacoub

b) Myrna Belo

c) Brian Wade

10. Who is Munis Sheikh and why did he resign?

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 8 11. What changes in the way the census is conducted occurred in 1971 and 2006?

12. How have social media such as Twitter and Facebook become important in the controversy over the census?

13. How do the opposition parties plan to keep the census issue alive after Parliament resumes in September 2010?

Post-viewing Questions 1. Now that you have watched the video, revisit your responses to the Pre- viewing Questions. Have your opinions changed in any way? Explain.

2. Do you think the government has made a credible case in support of its decision to eliminate the mandatory long-form census? Why or why not?

3. Do you agree with critics who argue that the information derived from the long-form census is very important for Canadians? Why or why not?

4. Do you think that the census issue will remain important enough to threaten the survival of the Conservative minority government and even prompt a new federal election? Why or why not?

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 9 THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CENSUS What is the census?

Did you know . . . Focus for Reading Census data provide Create an organizer like the one below in your notebook. As you read the following information on information on the history of the census, write down key points in your organizer. incomes, languages You should be able to enter two or three points in each section of your chart. You spoken, population will be using this information in the activities that follow the text material. density, and education, all of which The Census of Canada are necessary for 1. The Census in New France planning new libraries. • The census dates back to the early period of New France, long before Canada became a nation. Did you know . . . • Since 1871, the federal government has administered a national census every 10 Urban planners and years. transit officials rely on 2. Changes in the Census over Time census data to address 3. Changing Technology the needs of people living in cities. 4. Purpose of the Census

1. Census in New France what it is today. Montreal was the only When Canadians complete the next city of any significant size, with Toronto census, in 2011, they will be continuing a very distant second. As the country a tradition that dates back over three grew over the decades so did the census. centuries, from the time before More questions were added to the form Canada even existed as a nation. In and a larger number of public employees 1666, Jean Talon—the French King were hired to pay door-to-door visits to Louis XIV’s chief assistant in New households across the country and later France—commissioned the first census compile their data by hand. of the colony’s 3 215 inhabitants. He Over the decades, census results served recorded their age, sex, marital status, as a profile of important social, cultural, and occupation for the purpose of setting religious, and economic changes that priorities for the colony’s growth and were transforming Canadian society. For economic development. Talon was so instance, in 1921 the census recorded the determined to complete his task that he fact that the country’s rural population visited many settlers personally in order was declining rapidly, while its cities to obtain the information he needed were growing, creating new urban for his royal master back in France. challenges for governments. In 1931, at Since 1871, just after Confederation the onset of the Great Depression, the established Canada as a country, people census sought to measure the extent of have been asked every 10 years to unemployment and determine what was complete a census form as one of their causing it. The 1941 census, compiled basic duties as citizens. as Canada was engaged in fighting the Second World War, focused on housing 2. Changes in the Census over Time and helped governments to plan for At the time of the first national census programs that would provide low-cost in 1871, Canada was a primarily rural housing to Canadians in the “baby country comprising only four provinces, boom” of the postwar era. with a population about one-tenth of In 1956, responding to the rapid

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 10 and profound changes taking place in the sorter-tabulator made it possible to Canadian society, the federal government compile census data 50 times faster than introduced a new “mini-census” to before. And in 1951, processing time take place every five years, enabling and costs were even further reduced governments and other bodies to respond with the introduction of punch cards and more swiftly to changes than would have huge first-generation computers. Since been the case if they waited 10 years for then, the rapid development of computer new census data to emerge. technology has made it possible for StatsCan to develop increasingly detailed 3. Changing Technology and sophisticated reports based on the Today, the public body that administers data gathered through the census. the national census is Statistics Canada, or StatsCan for short. This organization 4. Purpose of the Census publishes a number of important studies Along with most developed countries, of social and economic trends in Canada Canada entered the Information Age in based on the raw data compiled in the early years of the 21st century. It is the census. These reports frequently a very different country from the one become the foundation on which in which the first census results were political leaders at all three levels of based, in 1871. But the main purpose government—municipal, provincial, and of the national census remains much federal—develop policies that will serve the same as it was then, or even as far the needs and interests of Canadians. back as the days of New France: it is to While most are only required to respond provide governmental and other public to a few questions in the short-form and private organizations with a snapshot version, a random sample of 20 per cent in time of the population. This enables of households is selected to fill in the them to plan policies, programs, or long form, a more detailed document marketing strategies based on important from which important data are gathered demographic data relating to changing on a number of different topics. patterns and trends in the Canadian Changes in technology have influenced population. Much more than a mere the way census takers conducted their task head count, the national census offers over the years. During the early decades, key insights into a number of aspects of the census was compiled and collated people’s lives, including their income by hand, without any mechanical aids at levels, education, housing, employment, all. But in 1931, a new machine called religion, and marital status.

Follow-up 1. With a partner or in a small group compare the information in your summary chart. Help each other to complete any missing information. 2. In what ways is the census more than just a “head count” of Canada’s population? 3. What important changes in Canadian society did the results of the national census track from the time of Confederation up to the end of the Second World War? 4. What important data does Statistics Canada extract from the results of the national census, and how it this information used?

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 11 THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CENSUS The Government’s Controversial Position

Quote Planning Ahead “. . . information Working with a partner or in a small group, read either the first or second must be the bedrock passage below, and respond to the questions based on it. on which we build public policy in Passage 1: The Harper Cabinet information to an arm of government areas that matter to Weighs In and are subsequently threatened with Canadians. Trying The Conservative government’s decision jail time when they do not do so. So to get a snapshot to do away with the mandatory long- we are, in my view, speaking to those of our country with form census and replace it with a Canadians while at the same time doing inaccurate and everything in our power to ensure that unreliable data is voluntary national household survey, like using a camera announced on June 26, 2010, was the results that are received from the without enough almost immediately greeted with a storm long form questionnaire are valid and pixels. The blurrier of protest from a number of groups defensible” (“Tony Clement clears the the picture gets, the nationwide. In the aftermath of this air on census,” www.theglobeandmail. harder it becomes to heated controversy—which dominated com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ recognize the face of the news media well into the summer— tony-clement-clears-the-air-on- our nation.” — Roy census/8/24/2010). Romanow, former the task of defending the government’s Saskatchewan premier move fell to Industry Minister Tony This concern for privacy was a major (, Clement. Clement’s cabinet portfolio argument for other cabinet ministers August 22, 2010) includes responsibility for Statistics who rallied to the defence of their Canada, the federal agency responsible government’s position as criticism for administering the census. A few mounted. According to an article days prior to the dramatic resignation in The Globe and Mail on July 19, of Munir Sheikh, the head of StatsCan, 2010, Dimitri Soudas, a spokesperson Clement took questions from a Globe for Prime Minister Harper, said that and Mail reporter and attempted “Canadians don’t want the government to clear the air over the mounting at their doorstep at 10 o’clock at night controversy. Clement sought to portray while they may be doing something the government’s relationship with in their bedroom, like reading.” In the StatsCan and its chief as cordial and same article Transport Minister John co-operative and gave the impression Baird asserted that, “I just think a lot of that the agency was basically on board Canadians find it really offensive that with the government’s decision. But big government steps into their lives, in the aftermath of Sheikh’s departure, asking how many bedrooms they have Clement’s challenge to justify the in their house. I think it’s ridiculous.” government’s action to the Canadian And finally, Treasury Board President public in the face of growing opposition Stockwell Day invoked what media became much more daunting. commentators were quick to call the One of the first questions Clement was “Hogan’s Heroes defence”—after a asked was to explain the government’s popular 1960s television comedy show rationale for the changes it was about U.S. prisoners of war in a Nazi introducing. In response, he stated prison camp—when he noted that, “even that, “my position is we are standing prisoners of war only have to give their on the side of those Canadians who name, rank, and serial number.” have an objection to divulging personal

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 12 1. What was the main justification Tony Clement and other government Did you know . . . leaders gave for their decision to do away with the mandatory long-form Marketers use data census? from the census to formulate 2. Do you find this justification persuasive? Why or why not? Give reasons for their mailing lists. your viewpoint. Environics, a major polling firm, warns that without these Passage 2: Why did the One explanation for the government’s data, much more government really do it? decision was that it might appeal to the junk mail may be Given that the government’s decision right-of-centre base of the Conservative incorrectly targeted to scrap the long-form census came as a Party whose votes and support will be to the wrong homes, surprise to most observers, many media needed in the next election campaign. It causing frustration for commentators pondered the question is possible that Conservative strategists recipients. of why this controversial decision had were looking south to the United States, been arrived at in the first place. Always where the growing right-wing Tea Party concerned about portraying itself as a movement was making opposition to careful manager of the nation’s finances, the upcoming U.S. census a major issue. the Harper government could not really The Conservatives may have been trying claim that the decision would result to create a wedge issue—one that is in any savings to taxpayers for the of great concern to a small but highly cost of the census. This was because motivated portion of the electorate when the expense of distributing the new it casts its ballots. national household survey to one-third of Aside from government Canadian households would exceed the spokespersons, there were very few original cost of administering the long- commentators in the media who rushed form census to 20 per cent. to support the move to scrap the long- There was also little if any evidence form census. One of them was Tom that the privacy issue the government Flanagan, a University of Calgary was invoking so frequently was a major political scientist and former advisor to concern to many Canadians, according Stephen Harper. While he is critical of to opinion polls. For its part, the federal the way the government had initiated Privacy Commission noted that it had its new policy, he believes that it has received only a handful of complaints some merit, pointing to the fact that 21st- about previous censuses. Meanwhile, century technology may make it possible there had also been reports in the media for governments and other bodies to that some senior members of the Harper obtain the information they need from government, including Finance Minister sources other than the national census. Jim Flaherty and Industry Minister Tony He notes that a number of European Clement, had recommended to the Prime countries have already abolished their Minister that the idea to abolish the long- censuses, relying instead on other data form census be reconsidered prior to banks such as voters’ lists, tax filings, the government’s June announcement. and mandatory national identification However, these claims were later denied cards to gather important data on their by spokespersons for the ministers populations. concerned.

1. What reasons are there to be skeptical about the government’s claim that it was acting to protect the privacy of Canadians in making changes to the way the census is conducted?

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 13 2. How could the government’s move be viewed as an attempt to play to its base of support? Do you think this tactic will be successful? Why or why not? Give reasons for your viewpoint.

Follow-up 1. With your partner or small group share your responses to the questions you answered above. Were your responses similar? Dissimilar? Add any additional information you learned from your partner or group members that you feel is important.

2. Why did the resignation of Munir Sheikh cast doubt on Tony Clement’s claim that the government and Statistics Canada were working together harmoniously on the plans to alter the way the next census was conducted?

3. How do you respond to the quotes from Dimitri Soudas, John Baird, and Stockwell Day that seek to justify the government’s decision to change the census?

4. Do you agree with Tom Flanagan’s position that 21st century technology may be rendering traditional methods of conducting a national census obsolete? Why or why not?

5. Do you agree with Roy Romanow’s comment about the importance of the national census for Canadians? Why or why not?

6. Develop some counter-arguments that critics of the government’s decision might make to refute the views expressed in the quotes above.

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 14 THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CENSUS The Backlash

Did you know . . . Focus for Reading New Canadians are With a partner, read the following quotations from individuals representing less likely to respond a wide variety of organizations in Canada that have spoken out against the to voluntary surveys, government’s decision to scrap the long-form census and are urging it to so moving from the reconsider the move. long-form census to a voluntary survey may As you read them, respond to the following questions: make it more difficult for public agencies to 1. Why is the person upset with the government’s decision? develop services to assist them. 2. What does s/he think will be the result of the change? 3. Do you agree with the viewpoint expressed in the quotation? Why or why not?

“There’s a book in the Bible called Numbers that begins with God ordering a census of people wandering in a wilderness. Why the Almighty wanted the mathematical count seems to come down to the issue of nation building. Numbers were going to be needed for Moses and his leaders to understand all that would be required to create community and the structures that would nurture and sustain it. “Canadian church leaders have sunk their teeth into that truth and protested the Conservatives’ plan to end the mandatory long-form census. Protecting a harmonious society, care for the poor and vulnerable, and safeguarding religious liberty lie at the heart of their complaints. Like Moses’ nemesis the Pharaoh, the federal government has turned a deaf ear.” — Lorna Dueck, Canadian evangelical Christian spokesperson (“Even God ordered a census,” The Globe and Mail, www.theglobeancmail.com/ news/opinions/even-god-ordered-a-census/8/22/2010)

“Section 91 of Canada’s Constitution states: ‘It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate and House of Commons, to make laws for the Peace, Order, and good Government of Canada.’ If there is one overriding shared value among Canadians, it is a desire for good government. This does not mean we are indifferent to the Americans’ concern for ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.’ It does mean we are prepared to incur certain obligations to enable good government. Among them is a willingness to accept mandatory participation in a census able to generate reliable information about Canadian social conditions. Information provided is confidential, and this confidentiality has never been violated.” — Mel Cappe, president of the Institute for Research on Public Policy; Pierre Fortin, emeritus professor of economics, University of Quebec at Montreal; Michael Mendelson, senior scholar at the Caledon Institute of Social Policy; and John Richards, professor of public policy, Simon Fraser University (“Stand up for good government, MPs,” The Globe and Mail, www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/ stand-up-for-good-government-MPs/8/22/2010)

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 15 “In scrapping the mandatory long form, we risk losing an essential source for Did you know . . . our understanding of Canada and its history. The national census is the only Non-profit and charitable comprehensive survey of ordinary Canadians that is representative of all groups organizations need in our population. We use censuses from the past to understand immigration, the data from the employment, aging, education, health, and many other subjects. A voluntary survey long-form census cannot replace the long form because it will yield biased and incomplete information. to track changes in By this short-sighted decision, government beggars public policy and erases much communities that of our history.” — Eric W. Sagar, Department of History, University of Victoria (The indicate need for the Globe and Mail, July 1, 2010) services and support they offer. “The decision by this government concerning the census is truly a stupid decision. Mr. Clement has clearly not understood the importance of having clear, accurate data that [allow] us to take the right decisions for the country. Let’s be clear. This is ideological and it touches on the most vulnerable Canadians and the federal government’s ability to deliver progressive programs to help them.” — Liberal MP and Industry critic Marc Garneau (Toronto Star, July 15, 2010)

“I strongly oppose the planned elimination of the mandatory long-form census by 2011 by the federal government. I would like to add that, although Statistics Canada is a federal agency, it is also in many ways a unique service provider to all levels of government. Ontario pays for information and analysis from the data retrieved from Statistics Canada. Actually, it is the only reliable source for the vital data used by all of us to perform our basic daily tasks. Be it in health, immigration, transportation and, of course, francophone affairs, we all need reliable data to establish a precise picture of our communities and households.” — Francois Boileau, French Language Services commissioner of Ontario (Toronto Star, July 16, 2010)

“Without this information [from the long- form census], Canada is stripped of an important resource to guide social interventions and investments to improve the health and well-being of Canadians. We know that income is a determinant of health. We know that other socio-economic indicators are as well, which this census measures. The health services and research community have just lost a major tool that they use to look at inequities in health care.” — Dr. Paul Hebert, editor-in-chief, Canadian Medical Association Journal (Toronto Star, July 16, 2010)

“In ‘Count Me In,’ our new guide to collecting human-rights-based data, we identify this information as a vital starting point for organizations working to eliminate barriers for their workers and their customers. It is hard to solve problems or run a successful business or make a good policy without all of the information—yet that is exactly what is being proposed by these changes. Under Canada’s human-rights legislation, there is a legal duty to offer inclusive and equitable opportunities for everyone in areas like education, employment, housing, health care, etc. Without good data, we can’t measure how well we are doing or how we can improve. Canada needs the data that the mandatory long-form census provides.” — Barbara Hall, chief commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission (The Globe and Mail, July 16, 2010)

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 16 “Harper’s Tories . . . give conservatism a bad name. Acting dumb when intelligence Did you know . . . is required makes no sense under any circumstances. Without StatsCan’s numbers, Businesses rely on census data to how will the federal government be able to trumpet the benefits of its own economic determine where to stimulus package? People fear Big Government, as they fear evolution, because establish new outlets. it threatens their preconceived notions that although strongly held, have no basis in reality. . . . Yet this fear and loathing resonates with many Canadians. . . . Anti- intellectual, anti-information, anti-intelligence, Canadian conservatives would rather get even than get smart. And that doesn’t add up.” — Christopher Hume, journalist (“Changes to census simply don’t add up,” Toronto Star, July 23, 2010)

“The scrapping of the census long form has been attacked by every organized group imaginable and decried editorially by newspapers of all political stripes. Opposition to the government’s move appears to have resonance not only with those who make use of census data in their work (academics, urban planners, bankers, marketers) but with the public at large. By resigning in protest over the government decision, former Statistics Canada head Munir Sheikh is on his way to becoming a national hero. Indeed, a casual observer might think Canadians are fixated on statistical methodology. My guess is that most are not. Rather, it is the arbitrary and secretive nature of the government’s decision that strikes a chord. It reminds those who are suspicious of Harper why they still don’t trust him.” — Thomas Walkom, journalist (“The kerfuffle isn’t over the census, it’s over Harper.” Toronto Star, July 24, 2010)

Follow-up 1. With your partner, share your responses to the questions you answered in the Focus for Reading activity.

2. Considering the background of some of the individuals responsible for the quotations above, why do you think they would have a personal or professional concern with the government’s decision to abolish the long- form census?

3. a) Identify some words or phrases in the quotes above that would indicate the bias of the person responsible for it. How do they indicate that the person’s point of view on the government’s decision is a negative one?

b) Are the quotes in the section entitled “The Government’s Controversial Position” any more or less biased than those from this section? Explain your answer.

4. Look up the meanings of the following words and explain how they are used in the quotes from which they are taken: nemesis, provocative, ideology, talisman, resonance, arbitrary.

5. Develop some counter-arguments that supporters of the government’s decision might make to refute the views expressed in the quotes above.

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 17 THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CENSUS Activity: Class Vote

With your students, organize an in-class debate on the issue of the government’s decision to abolish the mandatory long-form census. This activity could be conducted in the following manner:

1. Summarizing positions on the issue With a small group you will be asked to summarize and present arguments either supporting or opposing the government’s decision to stop using the long- form census. Reviewing the information in this CBC News in Review story will assist you in your preparation.

Keep in mind the following information as you prepare. The last long-form census, conducted in 2006, was 40 pages long and asked basic questions about the names, sex, date of birth, and marital status of the members of the household. It also asked about their citizenship, language spoken, and racial or ethnic origin. There were also detailed questions relating to education, employment, income, medical disabilities, and hours spent doing housework or caring for children and seniors without pay. The last questions concerned the number of bedrooms in the house, how much the house was worth, what repairs it needed, and the monthly cost of utilities such as heat and electricity.

The following Web sites are also a source of useful information. • Official site of the Canadian census, www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/ index-eng.cfm • Census: CBC News In-Depth, www.cbc.ca/news/background/census/ Or type “census” in the search field of the following news sources: • The Toronto Star, www.thestar.com • The National Post, www.nationalpost.com • CANOE (Canadian Online Explorer), www.canoe.ca

2. In-class debate After all groups have finished summarizing their positions on the issue, the class will be divided in half to conduct a debate on the following motion: “The federal government’s decision to abolish the mandatory long-form census is a good one.”

One half of the class can present arguments in the affirmative, or supporting the motion, while the other half can argue for the negative, opposing it. Each side in the debate may be given time to present opening statements and then have an opportunity to reply to or rebut the argument the other side has put forward. Finally, each side can be given the time to present a closing statement, summarizing its arguments.

3. Vote on the issue Once the debate has concluded, the class as a whole can vote either in favour of or against the motion. Alternatively, a pre-debate vote can be held, followed by a post-debate vote, in order to determine which side’s arguments have proved more persuasive to the class as a whole.

CBC News in Review • September 2010 • Page 18