Remember, the two votes are at 6 PM Thursday - Muriel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon A. Watts" <gordon_watts@telus.net> To: "Canada Census Campaign" <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 12:15 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census - Where is Bill S-18? Greetings All With Belinda Stronach crossing the floor to the Liberals the chance of the Budget vote failing on Thursday is lessened, but a passing vote is by no means a certainty yet. The Government needs the support of at least one of two so far undeclared Independent MPs for the vote to pass. Because the vote has been declared one of 'confidence', if it fails an election will be called and Bill S-18 goes into the dumper. If the vote passes, an election will be delayed and Bill S-18 should hopefully once again appear on the Projected Order of Business for the House of Commons. Our major problem then returns once more to one of time. According to the Parliamentary Calendar the House of Commons does not sit next week. They resume sitting on 30 May and continue for nine sitting days to the normal start of the summer recess on 9 June. There is a possibility that sitting can be extended for up to 10 days, but as yet there is no indication that is likely to happen. If the powers that be have not listened to our urging to see S-18 passed in a single day, and it follows the normal route, I see little chance that it will be passed before Parliament recesses for the summer. I would love to be proved wrong. As I write this, a few government Bills have been added to Wednesday's Projected Order of Business for the House of Commons. Unfortunately Bill S-18 is not one of them. Happy Hunting Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net 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