Greetings All. No debate on Third Reading of Bill S-18 took place in the Senate chambers Thursday so it remains adjourned in the name of Senator Lynch-Staunton. While S-18 was the first item on the Orders Paper for Government Business, when it was called it was postponed 'until the next sitting', which is now Tuesday 19 April. No reason is given in the Journals for postponements. At least two other Bills received Third Reading and passed but it would appear that the Bill that concerns us does not rate the priority with some Senators than do other Bills. Further delays in seeing Bill S-18 receive Third Reading and referral to the House of Commons are increasingly frustrating. We wish that the Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton, when indicating his desire to speak against Bill S-18, would do so at the time rather than adjourning the debate until another day. It is likely coincidence, but it seems that each time debate is adjourned in the name of the good Senator there follows at least one sitting day in which the debate is not continued. (Please do not send any messages to the Honourable Senator suggesting delays in the debate have been deliberate. The last time that happened it caused no end of problems for us. Contact with any Senators should be kept to encouraging speedy passage of Bill S-18 rather than berating anyone for delays in doing so.) It is looking less and less as if Bill S-18 will be passed before Parliament recesses for the Summer, or before the current minority government may be forced to call an election because of a non-confidence vote. We can still hope however. If we can get Third Reading finished in the Senate and see it sent to the House of Commons it is possible that it could be fast-tracked there. We believe that Statistics Canada is as anxious as we are to see Bill S-18 passed. On their Test Census conducted 11 May 2004 they included the 'informed consent' clause. They must have time to print the schedules for the 2006 Census schedules. It is likely they are just waiting for S-18 to pass before the go-ahead is given for printing. If an 'informed consent' provision is included on the 2006 Census schedules without Bill S-18 (or another Bill giving authorization) being passed, it is our view that such inclusion would be unlawful. We have advised Industry Minister Emerson of this view, but of course we have had no response from him. As of Tuesday 19 April there will be only 28 sitting days in the House of Commons before Parliament recesses for the summer. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-chair Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted