To all:- The following important message may be forwarded across Canada, and increases the need for Senate petitions from Canadians. Muriel M. Davidson [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee ----------------------------- Greetings All. On Thursday 7 March 2002, during debate in the Senate regarding the Report Stage of Senator Milne's Bill S-12 - an Act to Amend the National Archives of Canada Act and the Statistics Act (census records), Senator Lowell Murray made a motion to refer the Bill back to Committee. His motion was as follows: "That Bill S-12 be not now read a third time but that it be referred back to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for further study." His stated purpose in doing so was to allow Canada's Chief Statistician, Dr. Ivan Fellegi, to respond to a number of statements made by Senator Milne during debate. This even though the statements referred to had echoed those made long before the Committee had made clause by clause deliberation of Bill S-12 last December, and for which Dr. Fellegi had had ample time in which to respond. Dr. Fellegi had declined to attend the Committee hearings on 19 September 2002, instead delegating his assistant, Michael Sheridan to appear in his stead. This motion was post-poned during debate on 7 March so as to allow some consultation with the Chair of the Committee, Senator Michael Kirby, regarding the work load of the Committee and availability of time for the Committee to receive Dr. Fellegi. On 25 March 2002, following that consultation, Senator Murray once again brought forward his motion to refer S-12 back to the Committee. Based on information gained from consultation with Senator Kirby, Senator Milne was able to amend Senator Murray's motion to add a time limitation within which the Committee would be required to return Bill S-12 to the Senate. As things stand at this moment, Bill S-12 has been referred back to Committee to allow Dr. Fellegi the opportunity to appear before them. It is expected that if he appears, that wll take place on Wednesday 17 April 2002, the only time the Committee has free with their current workload. The amended motion referring Bill S-12 back to Committee requires that it be returned to the Senate Chamber no later than Tuesday 30 April 2002. This further delay, although disappointing, is not necessarily a bad thing, and at least in this instance the delay has had some limits put on it. It should give Senator Milne another crack at dispelling some of the misinformation that has been put out by Statistics Canada and Dr. Fellegi. It will be interesting to see if Dr. Felligi uses his appearance to further his promotion of the non-existant "promise" of confidentiality without end. It will be interesting also to see if he selectively uses information from the recently held Focus Groups to justify his position. It certainly cannot be justified on the basis of results of the Town Hall Meetings. The Hansard extracts of Senate debates relating to the Census issue, and specifically Bill S-12, are currently up to date, (with the exception of yesterdays debate which should be online within a few days) and are available on the Post 1901 Census Project website at the URL following my signature. Of particular interest in relation to Bill S-12 are the debates of 14 December 2001, 19 February and 7 March 2002. On 19 February and 7 March, Senator Murray speaks against Bill S-12. During debate on 25 March (on line shortly) Senator Milne dispells some of the misinformation offered by Senator Murray in his speeches. On another subject, I have been advised today that MP Murray Calder's Bill C-312 (identical to S-12) is currently scheduled for its one hour of debate on Tuesday 9 April 2002. Allowing for possible further delays in the House, it could happen on 10 or 11 April. I continue to urge all to write to their own MPs seeking support for Bill C-312 and for unanimous consent of the House to make the Bill votable. Write your Senators also for their support for Bill S-12. As usual, we continue to seek signatures on petitions for BOTH the Senate and the House of Commons. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] 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: 6.0.330 / Virus Database: 184 - Release Date: 2/28/02