Saturday, August 9, 2008

Dear Statistics Canada, and the Government of Canada:

(This letter is an example of what you could write to Stats Can and your elected officials! Feel free to copy and paste it, or change it, or use it as a basis to write your own letter! Emails are great too! See below for addresses)

Dear: (See below for Names of people to write to).

As a citizen of Canada, I was shocked to discover the connection between Lockheed Martin (one of the world's largest weapons contractors) and the 2006 Census in Canada. Part of the multi-million dollar budget for the Census was awarded in contracts to Lockheed Martin for census data collection software and services. While some Canadians protested the American company's involvement in the 2006 Census, most Canadians were unaware of how their tax dollars were being spent. I find it unethical and unacceptable for Lockheed Martin to have any involvement in the Canadian Census. This corporation directly profits financially from the misery, death and destruction currently ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. By building and selling weapons of war (such as cluster bombs and depleted uranium shells) that maim, poison, and kill human beings, Lockheed Martin contributes to the escalating international violence in our world, and does so while making billions of dollars.

The bidding for the 2011 Census contract is now open, and Lockheed Martin will certainly be a contender.

I am personally greatly concerned about this issue. Therefore, if Lockheed Martin is involved in the 2011 Census, my conscience will not allow me to participate in the Census. If this American weapons manufacturer is awarded any contracts for the Census, I will protest by minimal cooperation methods or by refusing to submit my census form.

As a Canadian citizen who is dedicated to peace, I request that you do everything in your power to ensure that Lockheed Martin receives absolutely no part of the 2011 Census contract. I ask that the contract for this census be awarded to companies that have no connection to munitions, bombs, guns, missiles or any other weapons of war. Please use your position and influence to ensure that our 2011 Census is not tainted with Lockheed Martin's technology of violence and destruction.

In the past Canada has been known for Peacekeeping; let's continue to strive for peace and non-violence in a world that needs it so desperately, on all levels of business and government.

Sincerely
(your name and address)

How Do I Contact Statistics Canada?

Let Stats Can know that we don't want ANY involvement from Lockheed Martin in the upcoming 2011 Census! The bidding for the contract is happening between now and March 2010. Tell Stats Can that you don't want your tax dollars awarded in a multi-million dollar contract to an American War-Profiteer!

Send Letters and Emails to:

Mr. Munir A. Sheikh
Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6
http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/COMMENTS/taloncomment.pl?referer=http://www.statcan.ca/menu-en.htm
E-mail: Munir.Sheikh@statcan.ca

Mr. Ivan Fellegi
Chief Statistician Emeritus
Telephone: 613-951-9757
E-mail: fellegi@statcan.ca


OR GIVE THEM A CALL!
8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Toll-free telephone(Canada and the United States):
1-800-263-1136 - Enquiries line
1-800-363-7629 - National TTY line (teletype machine)
1-877-287-4369 - Fax number

Who Should I Send Letters and Emails To?

Here is a list of Government officials to contact; if you are from outside of Kingston, please check this link to find your local elected officials and mailing address! (REMEMBER: When sending mail to any Member of Parliament at the House of Commons, you DON'T need to use a stamp! It's Free! or send them an email!)

Hon. Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry (responsible for Statistics Canada)
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-947-9475
Email:
Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca


Christian Paradis, (Minister Responsible for the Dept of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Ottawa Office) House of Commons West Block, Room 350 Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 Telephone : 613-995-1377 E-mail : paradc0@parl.gc.ca
Email: Paradis.C@parl.gc.ca


François Guimont
(Deputy Minister/Deputy Receiver General for Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada) DEPUTY MINISTER'S OFFICE 11 Laurier Street Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0S5
Telephone: (819) 956-1706
E-mail:
francois.guimont@pwgsc.gc.ca

Hon. Peter Milliken
(MP for Kingston and the Islands)
House of Commons
316-N Centre Block
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
EMAIL: Milliken.P@parl.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 996-1958

Hon. Jack Layton, NDP Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Fax (613) 995-4565
EMAIL: Layton.J@parl.gc.ca

Right Hon. Steven Harper, Conservative Party of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-941-6900
EMAIL: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Stéphane Dion, Liberal Party of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-966-6562
Email: DionS@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Québécois
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON,
K1A 0A6
Email: Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca

Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada
PO Box 997, Station B
Ottawa, ON K1P 5R1
Email: leader@greenparty.ca

Dear Statistics Canada:

PLEASE do not contract out ANY work for the 2011 Census to Lockheed Martin, the world's largest manufacturer of weapons of war!!! Please employ ethical Canadian companies instead. Thank You!