Morals over census just made more sense

The decision to object to the 2006 census was an easy one for Todd Stelmach.

After learning that U.S. arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin had been awarded the contract to perform the survey, he immediately decided his religious and anti-war beliefs wouldn't allow him to participate.

"I feel as a Christian we need to pursue peace and resist and oppose militarism and all forms of war," Stelmach says simply of his decision.

But the two years and lengthy court battle that have followed have been anything but simple, and there have been many moments when the 32-year-old Kingston, Ont. healthcare worker questioned whether he made the right decision.

When a judge handed down his ruling last week, and the process was finally over, Stelmach knew the fight was worthwhile -- and that he was glad it was over and he was still a free man.

Ontario Court Justice Charles Anderson found Stelmach guilty of refusing to sign the census and issued a $300 fine. But Stelmach avoided up to three months of possible jail time. As well, there was no court order that he sign the census -- something the Crown had sought.

'A Personal victory'

Stelmach, who had pleaded not-guilty, called it a "personal victory" and said he wouldn't have been able to obey such a court order and would have faced a possible criminal record as a result.

That prospect worried Stelmach, especially after he learned recently that his wife was pregnant.

"It made me question whether I still wanted to go through with it," he told CTV.ca. "It suddenly felt like the costs were greater if I were to get a criminal record from not complying with a court order, if I was given one."

As a devout Christian, Stelmach also wrestled with the implications of his decision to openly flout the law. He admits he "waffled back and forth in the early stages."

"There's a passage in scripture, Romans 13, that asks us to submit to the governing authorities and I had to do a lot of reading and a lot of praying to decide whether this was one of those circumstances where I had to disobey the authorities," Stelmach said.

For guidance, he sought out writings by Mennonite theologians whose way of life often forces them to take similar choices.

"My final conclusion was the idea that I can submit to the governing authorities' punishment but I don't necessarily need to obey if I feel that doing so would compromise my beliefs," he explains.

Supporting Lockheed Martin Ltd. Canada, a subsidiary of the U.S. weapons giant Lockheed Martin Corporation, which Stelmach says manufactures cluster bombs, would have represented that level of compromise.

Lockheed Martin has been providing census services for a decade, contracted to carry out data collection, processing and analysis services, according to its website.

Their clients have included the U.S., Canada and the U.K. -- where protests have emerged over the decision to award the 2011 census contract to Lockheed Martin.

Stelmach's sentence

While the judge's final decision wasn't exactly what Stelmach had hoped for, it could have been much worse.

The Crown had argued for a $100 fine and a court order that he be ordered to fill out the census.

Stelmach suggested that instead of being forced to fill out the forms, he could do community service in populations typically underserved by the census, such as among the homeless.

In the end the judge decided to increase the fine, but forego the court order.

Stelmach said he had the full support of his place of worship, the Next Church of Kingston, in his fight.

Lockheed Martin, which provided the software for the 2006 census, also has the contract for the 2011 census.

He called on Canadians to oppose the involvement of a U.S. arms manufacturer in the Canadian census, and says he will resist the census again, if need be.

"If Lockheed Martin is involved with the 2011 census I will not co-operate. I will find ways to do that. Would I go as far to plead not guilty in a trial? Maybe not."

There was also a blogspot page set up for the 2011 census, it hasn't been updated in some time, but I urge you to visit and take a peek.