Greetings All. FYI. I have posted on the Post 1901 Census Project website extracts from Hansard for Second Reading of Bill S-18. The major speaker in Wednesdays debate was Senator Gerald J. Comeau who has lived up to his well deserved RED X of opposition to the access we seek for Historic Census. He obviously does not go along with the leadership of his party, the Conservative Party of Canada, who have expressed support for that access. I have not yet counted up his many, many references to promises or the breaking of promises but I intend to. We obviously have not got through to him that NO PROMISE has ever been made that confidentiality of information provided to Census would last FOREVER. No such 'promise' exists now, nor has one ever existed. No one has been able to provide a single piece of documented evidence that any such promise was ever made. Not the Chief Statistician, not the former Privacy Commissioners, nor any of a number of parliamentarians that insist on referring to such a 'promise'. One wonders what part of "NO SUCH PROMISE WAS EVER MADE" do they not understand? I have several times challenged those who insist on making references to 'promises' of confidentiality that lasts 'forever'. I have asked them to 'Show me the promise'. I am still waiting. In response to someone who questioned why Senator Comeau opposed the access we seek he stated: "I have no objection whatsoever to release the 1911 census if in fact the current laws on the book dictate that the release is authorized". His speech in the Senate Wednesday certainly does not support this statement. Senator Comeau has been advised several times, as have all Senators and MPs that existing legislation makes specific provisions for access to information obtained through Census or Survey, by any person or body, 92 years after collection. They have been quoted chapter and verse regarding clauses in the Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Privacy Regulations that authourize that access. The Honourable Senator Comeau has chosen to ignore the information provided to him. I will not elaborate further here regarding Senator Comeau's speech to the Senate. Read it for yourself. I do NOT suggest that anyone write to the Honourable Senator Comeau berating him for his position -- you are unlikely to change his position. Should anyone feel absolutely compelled to write him I urge them to be polite and respectful. Do not let emotions run away with you, and do not be abusive. Be factual in the information you provide to counter the points he makes in his speech. Further Hansard extracts of the Bill S-18 debate in the Senate will be posted as soon as they become available. 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 Permission to forward without notice is granted