The head of Statistics Canada says he's "reflecting" on his future at the agency, the latest twist in the crisis over the government's decision to scrub the mandatory long-form census.

Statistics Canada's chief statistician Munir Sheikh is pictured at his office in Ottawa in this July 2008 file photo. ((Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)) Munir Sheikh issued an email to all agency staff Wednesday, cancelling a planned town hall meeting and saying he would comment soon — sparking speculation from insiders that he might resign.

The chief statistician added he would get back to employees soon with a decision on his position and that of Statistics Canada.

"In light of today's media coverage, I am cancelling the scheduled town hall meeting," Sheikh, a respected economist, said in the terse email. "I am reflecting on my position and that of the agency and will get back to you soon."

It was not immediately clear what "media coverage" Sheikh referred to, though Industry Minister Tony Clement, who's responsible for the agency, was quoted as saying Statistics Canada is not an independent organization.

"Sometimes, some of them like to think they are, but that doesn't make it so," Clement told the Globe and Mail on Tuesday. "They report to a minister."

With no consultation, the government quietly ditched the mandatory long census late last month, and suggested its decision was endorsed by Statistics Canada.

Instead, a voluntary long census form is to be sent to more Canadians next year, a move that has been denounced by critics ranging from economists to religious leaders.

Sources inside Statistics Canada have said the decision was entirely the government's, and that agency officials neither sought the change nor endorsed it.

Clement has said the government made the change to protect Canadians from a coercive, prying government.