The Tories are refusing to reverse a decision to scrap the mandatory long-form census questionnaire - even in the face of broadening opposition - calling it an unwarranted intrusion into Canadians' personal lives.

The controversy has morphed into a culture war skirmish between the Harper government and critics, one that allows the Tories - despite running record deficits - to paint themselves as anti-Ottawa for the red-meat Conservative political base vital to winning elections. The most hard-core in this group were horrified when the Tories went deep into debt to finance a two-year stimulus program.

Read the entire Globe and Mail article here.