1. Letter from The Honourable Bill Graham, P.C., M.P. M.P. for Toronto Centre Dec. 14, 2004 Dear Mrs. Davidson: Please find the enclosed reply I have received from the Honourable David Emerson, Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada, with regards to accessing historical census records. I trust that you will find the response of interest. If you have any further questions or concerns, or if you are interested in additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, [Signature} Bill Graham, P.C., M.P. Toronto Centre Encl. ======== QUESTION:- There have been many requests sent to the Hon. David Emerson, requesting he step in and stop Senators who are succeeding very well in stopping progress of Bill S-18. Is this a planned procedure, although it is a government bill? Many would like the reply. ========== 2. Letter from The Hon. David Emerson Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada Dec. 6, 2004 The Honourable Bill Graham, P.C., M.P. Room 418-N, Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Colleague:- Thank you for your letter of October 29, 2004, regarding correspondence you received from Ms. Muriel Davidson on the subject of access to historical census records. I am pleased to inform you that an Act to amend the Statistics Act was introduced in the Senate on November 2, 2004. (Bill S-18). A copy of the News Release announcing the tabling of the bill in the Senate is enclosedfor your information. The bill is supported by Senator Lorna Milne, a long-time advocate for access to historical census records. Bill S-18 will eliminate any legal ambiguity concerning the confidentiality status of historical census records. It will amend the Statistics Act to allow access to the 1911 to 2001 records 92 years after each census, without any conditions. The bill will also allow Canadians to decide, starting with the 2006 Census, if they will allow their personal census information to be released publicly after 92 years. I hope that the information I have provided will be of assistance to you in your reply to Ms. Davidson. Sincerely [signature] David L. Emerson [email protected] [email protected] Enclosure ========= NO restrictions? Decision with 2006 Census for parents of small children to decide THE CHILDREN will never be able to access family records!! That is a RESTRICTION!! === The enclosure from The Hon. David Emerson has already been posted http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census Check the News Release from Statistics Canada at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/S18scnews.htm The above may be forwarded -- Hopefully Bill S-18 MAY be allowed to proceed in 2005. Muriel M. Davidson