Articles and reports: 12-001-X197700254833Description: The paper first identifies some of the factors which have recently made it more difficult for statistical agencies to satisfy society's growing needs for information, while at the same time reassuring respondents that their privacy is adequately protected.The conceptual basis of privacy is then discussed, as well as the privacy provisions of the new Canadian Human Rights Act. The paper next reviews the confidentiality provisions of Canada's Statistics Act by which the privacy rights of respondents are protected. There then follows an account of the circumstances under which the confidential treatment of corporate information is being challenged, and the way in which Statistics Canada is endeavouring to meet governmental needs for access to individual corporate returns in a foreign ownership context without prejudicing traditional confidentiality practices in mainstream statistical reporting.Finally, the paper notes two subjects which are likely to feature in future discussions of confidentiality: first, scholarly access to historical statistical records; and second, the possibility of future freedom of information legislation in Canada. Issue Number: 1977002Author(s): Worton, D.A.Main Product:Survey Methodology
