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OTTAWA - Two men who know exactly how and why the long census got scrapped by the federal government will face a Commons committee today.

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THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Employees make their way to work at Statistics Canada in Ottawa on Wednesday July 21, 2010.

Industry Minister Tony Clement and Munir Sheikh, who up until a week ago was Canada's chief statistician, will testify before the Industry committee.

Members will grill Clement on the change, and likely ask Sheikh what advice he gave to cabinet on the wisdom of eliminating the long census.

Clement has said the move to a voluntary survey was an option recommended by StatsCan, but agency sources have said otherwise.

Sheikh resigned when he could no longer support the government's argument that the voluntary survey will be a suitable replacement for the long form.

The Conservatives have said they don't agree with threatening Canadians with fines or jail time for not filling out the detailed long census form.