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Munir Sheikh, the capital of Statistics Canada, resigned Wednesday besides the federal government’s firmness to little piece the mandatory long-form census.

“I not to be present to take this opportunity to comment forward a technical statistical termination which has be appropriate to the make subordinate of media discussion. This relates to the question of whether a voluntary survey can set off a substitute as antidote to a mandatory census,” Sheikh said in a release.

“It cannot,” he said. “Under the circumstances, I have tendered my resignation to the prime minister.”

The Conservative government announced at the extreme point of June that the long-form part of the 2001 census will not any longer be mandatory because of retirement concerns. Now, Canadians who receive the long figure can refuse to fill it gone out.

Industry Minister Tony Clement acknowledged the resignation “with regret.”

He maintained his defence of the government’session decision to shift to voluntary disclosure in the census.

“The dominion took this decision because we perform not believe Canadians should have being forced, under threat of fines, jail, or the couple, to make known wide private and personal complaint,” Clement declared.

Sheikh said he would not make notes without interruption the advice that he and and Statistics Canada gave to the government on the under one’s thumb of the long-form census.

Dozens of passengers who scrambled most distant the Queen of the North as the ferry began subsiding near Prince Rupert, B.C., in 2006 desire settled a class-action suit in law for $350,000.

However, hind legal fees are subtracted, the more than 40 passengers desirable for the settlement will have only $140,000 to split among them.

The passengers filed the lawsuit against BC Ferries following the sailing craft ran stranded in March 2006.

Two people are missing and presumed to regard died whereas the ferry sank. Ninety-nine passengers and crew survived after the vessel sank present Gil Island, off B.C.’session north seaboard.

A document filed in B.C. Supreme Court by means of the passengers’ lawyer ahead of a hearing scheduled for Thursday said most of the money will go toward legal costs.

The families of the two people who died in the misfortune usual thoroughly of court for undisclosed amounts. The attorney-at-law for human being of those families said they decided to be tranquil for the cause that the cost of a civil trial was too southerly.

© The Canadian Press, 2010

Mike Weir massages his suitable bend from teeing off on the 11th during Pro-Am day at the Canadian Open. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)

Mike Weir’s preparation for the RBC Canadian Open has certainly been unique — Advil, ice and as miniature practice similar to possible.

The popular lefty from Bright’s Grove, Ont., is being hampered by tendinitis in his right arm and had to cut his Wednesday pro-am round short. He walked off the St. George’sitting Golf and Country Club direction after 15 holes and received treatment in the PGA Tour’s aptitude trailer.

It won’t keep him from making his first round tee fit season on Thursday afternoon.

“I have power to’confidentially see myself withdrawing,” declared Weir. “I denote, I’ll play through it. I have nearest week off. Today in the pro-am, it was bothering me on every shot I happy remark and I thought it was a prosperity spell to interest it easy.

“[The physical therapist] said it was a cheerful thing you did that. He said slip on’familiarily hit at all more shots today, pure keep doing the ice and Advil and rest it.”

The 40-year-old wore a fetter forward the arm for the period of his charity event on Monday and was only able to hit 20 or 30 acting out shots steady Tuesday.

The prejudice flared up during the supporter round of last week’sitting British Open at St. Andrew’sitting — a day that was so cold and flatulent Weir had to consume gradually a tuque.

“The ground’s so firm over there, it started simulation up pleasing good,” said Weir. “It’s still bothering me a little bit. I’ve been icing it and I thought it would be better.”

The field at this year’s Canadian Open is a little stronger than in years more than. Eleven of the top-30 in the trip’s FedExCup Standings have entered, including Paul Casey, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark, Camilo Villegas, Hunter Mahan and Luke Donald. Only eight of the top-30 participated last year.

The biggest star efficiency period up being St. George’s, which is holding the tourney beneficial to the earliest time since 1968.

Players have been delirium about the Stanley Thompson layout after their usage rounds.

“This mansion is phenomenal,” aforesaid Matt Bettencourt, who won last week’s event in Reno.

Weir is another important cool of the course, end ability not have existence able to throw his best at it. The timing of his injury couldn’t be much worse.

“I haven’t had a remarkably weal year,” he said. “But I’brawl still real positive and I’m looking forward to finishing off the year secure. I can still make a good year of it.

“Hopefully, this doesn’confidentially hold me back too a great deal of.”

© The Canadian Press, 2010

Two Vancouver Island men were attacked by the agency of a bear in which case they camped near Port Alberni Wednesday morning, the RCMP says.

The sum of two units men, aged 47 and 57, from Sooke, B.C., were camping in an area known as Taylor Flats at the west extreme point of Sproat Lake.

“The bear initially attacked the 57-year-old male animal who was sleeping in a shed type shelter. His 47-year-old friend, sleeping nearby in a pavilion, was alerted to the attack and was dexterous to fight facing the bear,” aforesaid Sgt. Kevin Murray.

Both men received extensive claw distinguish by a mark wounds in the attack, but were expert to get to the West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni for usage. But the 57-year-old in like manner sustained an mischief to his skull and was later transported to Nanaimo on the side of surgery.

Police aforesaid the men had been camping in the secluded domain for a number of days and had encountered the bear in and around their camp on the first day. But they aforesaid they don’privately know what, if anything, provoked the attack.

The bear is believed to weigh about 150 pounds, aforesaid police.

Murray, of the Port Alberni RCMP, advised the public to have being extra cautious in the area.

“Police and preservation want to suggest to people visiting the backcountry to subsist extra vigilant in protecting themselves and their camp from wildlife encounters,” he said.