Forwarded with full agreement to all points listed below Muriel M. Davidson muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee ================ Greetings All. Over the past several weeks many people have expressed concerns regarding Bill S-13 and the conditions it imposes upon access to Census records after 1906. Concerns have been expressed that the Canada Census Committee appears ready to accept Bill S-13 as currently worded. Obviously some clarification in this is required. To begin with, we do NOT like S-13 as currently worded. We (I) have said repeatedly that everyone should be contacting their elected and appointed representative to voice their opinions regarding the restrictions and conditions imposed by S-13, and to seek amendments to make the Bill more acceptable to those seeking access to the Census records. I cannot emphasize this enough. It is not a matter of willingly accepting Bill S-13 as currently worded. I have stated that unless something catastrophic happens, being a government Bill, S-13 will pass in the Senate and in the House of Commons. The fact is, that is something that is out of our hands. WE do not have option, or power, to drop or withdraw the bill. That is entirely in the hands of the government. The Senate, or the House of Commons could, by a vote, defeat the Bill, but being a government Bill that is unlikely to happen. We have long sought a government Bill to deal with our concerns, believing that a government Bill would be sure to pass. It was expected that when such a Bill was drafted it would reflect the concerns of the public in seeking the same unrestricted access that we have had for the past 240 years. We were disappointed with the conditions imposed on access by S-13 but felt that it could be made more acceptable by seeking that certain amendments be made. We were further disappointed when the proceedings of the Senate Committee hearings were shanghaid by Senator Lowel Murray moving that S-13 be reported back to the Senate without amendment. Senator Murray obviously opposes any amendments that would make access easier and his motivation in making his motion was most certainly not because of his support for S-13, but to prevent debate on the tabled amendments that the majority of witnesses appearing before the Committee had expressed support for. We wonder about those who apparently oppose the will of the people and who seem to fear a free and open debate regarding what the people seek. We believe that those Committee members that sought to prevent a debate on the amendments have abrogated their responsibilities to the democratic process. Once more, loudly and clearly. Unless something drastic happens to cause the government to withdraw Bill S-13, it will be passed as currently worded. The most that we can do at this point, and MUST do, is to convince the Senators at large, and our Members of Parliament that the conditions imposed in Bill S-13 are NOT the will of the people and amendments MUST be introduced to remove or modify them.. The most important of the amendments we must seek is the removal of Clause 8 - the "informed consent" clause - for future Censuses. Failing removal of Clause 8, we must seek to ensure that it is an OPT-OUT provision rather than OPT-IN. Second in importance on the list of amendments to seek is to see at least the 1911 and 1916 records released without restriction, on the same basis as those for 1906 (and 235 years of earlier records) have been previously released. We would of course, like to see other amendments to remove the 20-year non-disclosure clause and the need to commit to the "undertaking". However, when all is said and done, they are something that most of us can live with. That is not to say that we wish to, but we can if need be. Write your letters and email NOW. The House of Commons resumes sitting on 28 April and the Senate on 29 April. There is still time to visit your MPs in their constituency offices before their return to Ottawa. No postage is required for letters to MPs and Senators if mailed within Canada. Please copy your letters and email to the office of Senator Lorna Milne. Contact information is available on the Post 1901 Census Project website at the URL following my signature. Follow the link for items pertaining to Bill S-13. E-mail addresses are available on the MP and Senator Scoreboards. 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 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.470 / Virus Database: 268 - Release Date: 4/8/03