The fact that for the last 10 years, clients, taxpayers, and the public were not informed by BC Stats of the many changes in estimating population is something that must be addressed to ensure it not happen again. These numbers are used to justify opening and closing of public, and private, facilities; to set municipal insurance rates; and used by ElectionsBC, BC Hydro etc.

These numbers were referred to in October 2010, in a report recommending the permanent closure of the only high school in the town of Qualicum Beach. The report by a consultant referred readers interested in the population estimates to the BC Stats methods paper. The BC Stats methods paper was dated 1998.

I contacted BC Stats to ask why the methods paper from 1998 had not been revised, pointing out that the methods had changed in many ways, particularly after 2001. I should mention that I have been asking that the real methods be made public since starting to work for BC Stats as the Population Analyst in 2002. My efforts were not addressed. Since being dismissed abruptly (shortly after a grievance regarding the real methods was submitted to the Deputy Minister) in 2006, I have written hundreds of letters and emails to the Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services, other government officials, and clients, as well as doing public presentations, explaining the real methods.

In August, the new Executive Director of BC Stats replied, informing me that the Generalized Estimation System (GES) methods paper from 1998 was going to be replaced with a new methods paper, now posted on the BC Stats website dated August 2011. The importance of the character of the management team for any Official Statistical Agency can not be underestimated. It can mean the difference between an Official Statistical Agency that uses scientific methods versus an Official Statistical Agency that allows outside influences on the numbers.

The missing 13 years from 1998 to 2011 was a very interesting time period in BC and many decisions were made regarding the opening and closing of public and private facilities referring to numbers created by BC Stats, including closing of public schools (nearly 200 since 2001).

Many changes to the methods were made in a veil of secrecy under the previous management who took over BC Stats and the Population Section directorship positions, after 2001. To reestablish integrity, the new BC Stats management should ensure users are kept up-to-date about the real methods and models used to estimate and forecast population in BC.

BC Stats can publicly announce changes to the way population numbers are created in a timely manner. Prior to making changes, BC Stats can present proposed changes to it’s own analysts (I asked for - but never saw - the testing of Telus data), as well as outside analysts, universities, and other statistical agencies such as Statistics Canada, for comment. The testing of telephone landline hookups and other changes between 2001 and 2011 should still be published, and a review of the data used to justify closing public schools conducted, thus fulfilling the mandate of "Open Government".

Also, in order to ensure that the numbers are not changed outside of the models without informing users, as well as it’s own analysts, verification can be allowed. This is easily done by making the inputs and the model available on the BC Stats website. These improvements will help reduce error and encourage education and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the real methods and models.