He was appointed after his predecessor, Munir Sheikh, resigned in protest over the Federal Government's decision to end the mandatory long-form census.

[1] Smith also resigned in protest over concerns about the Federal Government's centralization of IT services.

He argued that Statistics Canada needed to control its own IT infrastructure to protect its independence.

Throughout his career at the agency, Smith served as the Director of the Communications Division, the Director of the Special Surveys Division, the Director General of the Regional Operations Branch, and the Assistant Chief Statistician of the Communications and Operations Field and the Business and Trade Statistics Field.

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