Greetings All. For some time we have been hearing about a "compromise solution" to the Census issue that Statistics Canada and former Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips felt would meet the needs of genealogists and historians seeking access to Post 1901 Census records. Current Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski has stated that the 'compromise' is something that he can accept. It has been mentioned in Hansard for the Senate, recent responses from MPs and certain Senators mention it, Neil Sheridan and George Radwanski supported it in Senate Committee hearings in September, and now it has been used in the Ottawa Town Hall meeting. It might be stretching things at this point to suggest that the 'compromise' is being 'pushed' at the Town Hall meetings but copies of it were made available to everyone attending the meetings, and every presenter was asked if they could support it. It is my understanding that without exception, every presenter rejected it out of hand as being too restrictive and unworkable. Following the Senate Committee hearings I attended in September I was able to obtain a copy of the "compromise" and have done a thorough examination of it. I agree with the assessment of the presenters of the Ottawa Town Hall meetings. The so-called 'compromise', in my opinion, is no 'compromise' at all, and in fact is so restrictive as to be little better than no access at all. I have done a critique of this document, and included it in my latest column for the Global Gazette. Because of the length of it I will not post it in this message. The critique may be accessed at the following URL. http://globalgazette.net/gazce/gazce74.htm Like Environics and Statistics Canada, I am very interested in knowing how you feel about the so-called 'compromise solution'. After reading it I would ask that you send me a message stating your feelings about the 'compromise' suggested. Please limit your comments to what you feel about the 'compromise' suggested rather than my critique of the various sections. Place in the subject line of the message only 'Compromise Solution' without the quotation marks. I have set up filters in my email program to funnel these messages into a specific folder. My intention is to send these comments to Environics and/or Statistics Canada. My next column for the Global Gazette, which I am writing at this time, will include a critique of Dr. Ivan Fellegi's presentation to the Senate Committee. It should be online before the end of the week. I look forward to your comments. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted.