StatsCan wants its freedom from central federal IT department: documents
OTTAWA — The country’s chief statistician believes Statistics Canada must have complete control of its own digital systems rather than having to turn to the federal government’s central IT department.
Workers at the statistics agency were told earlier this year that it was antithetical having someone else look after IT services when the Liberals vowed during the election to make Statistics Canada more independent from the federal government.
The details are contained in documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act that included speaking notes for chief statistician Wayne Smith.
“Dependence on another party for informatics services impedes our ability to deliver our programs, to innovate and transform, (and) to better address new and emerging data needs,” Smith’s speaking notes read.