Muriel M. Davidson 25 Crestview Avenue Brampton, ON Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 905-451-3542 ================================= FAMILY HISTORY AND MAY 16, 2006 CENSUS By now most Canadians will have received the short or long form of the 2006 census records -- we were legally able to start completing these on May 2, 2006, with final date May 16, 2006. Only 20% received the 53-page long form and the 80% the short form. The purpose of the census is to gain statistics re number of people of various races in Canada at this date; plus the long form asked many more personal questions relating to income, marital status and others. This 2006 census is an interim one -- with main census records on years ending with "1", for example the 1901 census and the next one the 1911. A new and important question has been added this year -- No. 8 on the short form and No. 53 on the long form. It is a request that all Canadians mark the YES answer ensuring descendants will be able to access family data as of this date. The Canada Census Committee worked very hard from March 15, 1999 to June 28, 2005 before we actually obtained release of the overdue 1911 census records. However, Statistics Canada demanded a price for release of 1911 to 2001 records -- they called it the "Informed Consent" clause. StatsCan hopes to ask the same question also in 2011 and 2016 -- but we will have to see if this can be changed. The Informed Consent clause, for the first time in over 350 years, asks us to give permission for release of our personal family history by stating YES. If one answers NO or leaves the space BLANK, that is also considered as NO. The census records are used for other statistical purposes and data may be released shortly. This includes grants of monies based on the number replying to the census records.- The family data will be released by Library and Archives Canada in 2098, 92 years after enumeration. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are fully transcribed and may be viewed at http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/ Transcribing these was not always easy -- but now we are working on New Brunswick, plus all provinces of Canada. Looking forward to hearing that everyone marked YES!!! Should there be queries -- do not hesitate to contact me. Muriel M. Davidson muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Brampton, ON -- formerly Summerville Centre, NS