congratulations gordon..yes, by self publishing the cerlox bound book..you became an author..have you considered now going for canada arts council grants? roz -----Original Message----- From: Gordon A. WATTS [SMTP:gordon_watts@telus.net] Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 10:48 PM To: CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [CCC-L] I am an Author (?) Greetings All. In my research for my submission to the Expert Panel, "The Myths of Census", I spent a great deal of time, and received a great deal of assistance from the librarians at Vancouver Public Library. When my submission was completed I dropped off a copy of it (cirlux bound soft cover) for the librarians, so that they could see the results of their assistance. On a recent visit to VPL I was searching the online catalogue for something else and, on a whim, did a search for my own name under "Authors". Lo and behold, there I was. Checking the shelves I found that my submission had been hard cover bound and placed there for all to see. It is in the Genealogy section of the sixth floor and is marked "For Reference Only". I invite anyone interested to view the complete submission, including the appendices that are not currently online. The CD-ROM which contains a great deal of my support information, not published in the submission, is in a pocket inside the cover. Happy Hunting. Gordon

Hi everybody: I have seen very little mention of how we want to see the Census of 1911 (and 1906) and subsequent ones handled when they are made available. I would like to draw your attention to activities in Great Britain and the United States where plans to have Census information on line. For the USA refer to web site: http://www.myfamilyinc.com/pressroom/censusannounced.htm and for the United Kingdom: http://www.pro.gov.uk/census/update1.htm We should be doing some serious thinking of what to do with the Census after we win the battle for its release. Complicated data bases such as the Census are not put into usable online form without a good deal of testing etc. We should also consider the thought that these censuses provide an excellent source for serious migration studies as well as essential background for meaningful family history research. We should not relax our efforts to get the Census released but we should also be prepared for that release and how the data should be prepared for easy access. Gordon Taylor. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/

To all:- Many have asked what I meant by THE MYTHS OF CENSUS, available for printing (minus copyright material) at the following URL:- http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html or http://www.waynecook.com/simcoe.shtml There are SIX main MYTHS OF CENSUS:- 1. There was a PROMISE made by the government of Sir Wilfred Laurier that confidentiality of Census was FOREVER. 2. Respondents to Census were TOLD about this PROMISE. 3. The Census of 1906 was the first in which Rules and Regulations relating to Census and Statistics were subject to the "force of law". The process by which secrecy of name- identifiable Census records coming under the "force of law" was a deliberate, well thought out result of the legislative process. 4. Release of name-identifiable information in the distant future was a reason for confidentiality concerns of respondents to Census. 5. A MAJOR INTENT of early Census legislation was to ensure that Schedules of Census containing name-identified information would NEVER be available for future historical or genealogical research. 6. Without confidentiality that lasts forever, respondents will be reluctant to fill out Census or will not respond truthfully. ========================================= A personal note or two:- Years ago, my grandfather listed all answers he gave on various census records, told me they would be available for me in later years. He was a proud, family type of man -- wish he would be here to add his two cents' worth today! My aunt was born in 1902, still hale and hearty -- lives in a nursing home in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. She told me she can remember the excitement her parents enjoyed filling out the first Canadian census records -- for them -- they came from Maine in 1909. Her comment to me today was "The politicians have it all wrong". An invitation to everyone:- Print the researched data that Gordon Watts found and his reasons for above six MYTHS OF CENSUS - study it -- then contact your elected Member of Parliament. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canadian Census Committee

Greetings All. In my research for my submission to the Expert Panel, "The Myths of Census", I spent a great deal of time, and received a great deal of assistance from the librarians at Vancouver Public Library. When my submission was completed I dropped off a copy of it (cirlux bound soft cover) for the librarians, so that they could see the results of their assistance. On a recent visit to VPL I was searching the online catalogue for something else and, on a whim, did a search for my own name under "Authors". Lo and behold, there I was. Checking the shelves I found that my submission had been hard cover bound and placed there for all to see. It is in the Genealogy section of the sixth floor and is marked "For Reference Only". I invite anyone interested to view the complete submission, including the appendices that are not currently online. The CD-ROM which contains a great deal of my support information, not published in the submission, is in a pocket inside the cover. Happy Hunting. Gordon

Greetings All. A number of listers have wondered why so many of the MPs who have responded to our letters and email are shown on the Scoreboard as "fence-sitters". The simple answer is that they have not said "YES", or "NO". While many of the letters received may appear to be sympathetic to our cause they have not specifically stated that they would vote in favour of, or against, a Bill that would allow access to Post 1901 Census. I view these letters to be non-committal because they have not given a definitive answer to a specific question. Without a specific answer they will continue to perch uncomfortably on the fence. I have recently made many changes to the "Other Sites" page on the Post 1901 Census Project website and will be continuing to add more as I can. Direct links to several submissions to the Expert Panel are included, as are a number of links to French language sites with the same information. In an effort to see more input from those in Quebec I will make an effort to translate some of the other pages. Using a translation program that probably does the translation to Parisienne French rather than Quebec French there will no doubt be some things that will not appear the way it should. Not being bi-lingual myself I will be depending on others to advise me if the translations when posted are saying something totally outrageous. I am currently working on adding a page of extracts from Hansard for the House of Commons, similar to the one already posted for the Senate. I hope to have this completed sometime next week. The Post 1901 Census Project website is approaching 100,000 hits since it was set up. It all takes time and work, and my kids keep telling me I spent too much time on the computer. They are probably right so this is the last thing I do tonight. Happy Hunting. Gordon

NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY FEDERATION OF GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES Records Preservation and Access Committee c/o Federation of Genealogical Societies Post Office Box 200940 Austin, Texas 78720-0940 Muriel M. Davidson 25 Crestview Avenue Brampton, Ontario L6W 2R8 Dear Mrs. Davidson: Enclosed are petitions with 139 signatures in support of Canadian genealogists’ efforts to gain release of the post-1901 Canadian censuses. Signatures on these petitions were secured at the recently completed National Genealogical Society Conference at Providence, Rhode Island. Genealogists engage in family history research for many reasons, not the least of which is to strengthen the bonds that unite families across both time and borders. Because of the long history of intercourse across the Canadian/US Border millions of both Americans and Canadians have family ties in both countries. Access to census records is an important means to identify and strengthen such ties thus promoting not just the creation of genealogical charts and studies, but the sense of amity between our two countries as well. We hope the enclosed petitions will help you accomplish your goal of opening the census records and thus contribute to stronger families and stronger friendships. Sincerely, [Signature] Jack Brissee Chair, FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee

PETITIONS TO SENATOR LORNA MILNE Canadian:- 1. Robert Paulin, Surrey, British Columbia---------------------- 151 2. Family History Centre, Powell River, British Columbia- 44 3. R. Clark Brewer, Smithers, British Columbia---------------- 19 4. Robert Wiffin, Ancaster, ON------------------------------------- 33 <rwiffin@globalserve.net> Total (247) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>......................<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Non-Canadian:- 1. Dorothy Stanton, Danville, California--------------------- 20 2. Stuart W. Leslie, New Bern, North Carolina-------------- 3 3. John A.Brissce, Providence, Rhode Island--------------- 25 4. John A. Brissce, Providence, Rhode Island-------------- 16 5. John A. Brissce, Providence, Rhode Island-------------- 44 6. John A. Brissce, Providence, Rhode Island-------------- 49 7. John A. Brissce, Providence, Rhode Island-------------- 3 8. John A. Brissce, Providence, Rhode Island-------------- 1 9. Joy Reisinger, Sparta, WI--------------------------------------- 25 10. Arnold L. Howse, Orem, Utah------------------------------ 5 (Total -- 192) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PETITIONS:- <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm> Keep them coming, please -- both House of Commons & Senate House of Commons >> <gordon_watts@telus.net> ONLY Canadian residents, please Senate >>>>>>>>>>> <davidson3542@home.com> Both CANADIAN and NON-CANADIAN may assist!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee

I received this response today as well and mine was showing coming from the Assistant 1, I guess that means Elsie has more than 1 assistant. I am assuming there is no point in responding but why is she still on the fence. Jan Rogers "Muriel M. Davidson" wrote: > To all:- > I personally feel this is not the way Mrs. Elsie Wayne feels, > as this following letter has already been received by others > at least three times. > The assistants must be kept busy at the photocopier!! > > Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> > Canada Census Committee > > Dear Listers, > > Here is the response from Elsie Wayne - MP Saint John. Is basically rhetoric > and does not indicate her personal support for census release. > > Ottawa > > September 12, 2000 > > Dear Mrs. Warren, > > I am writing in response to your email regarding the use of Census data for > genealogical purposes. > > Rest assured the PC Party has pursued this issue with the Honourable John > Manley, Minister responsible for Statistics Canada, since the fall of 1998. > The government took some time before answering the enquiries of the PC > Party, which wrote to Minister Manley on behalf of the many Canadians who > have contacted us on this matter. > > Mr. Manley's responding correspondence states that he is considering two > options submitted by Statistics Canada: > > * Amending the Statistics Act to allow records, starting with the 2001 > Census, to be transferred to the National Archives of Canada and to be > subsequently made available to the public; or > * Retroactively changing the confidentiality provisions of the > Statistics Act to allow the 1911 Census and all censuses taken thereafter to > be eventually placed in the public domain. > > In either scenario proposed by Statistics Canada, 92 years would need to > elapse from the time of the respective Census before the public would be > permitted to access these records, which is in keeping with current > regulations pursuant to the Privacy Act. > > I would welcome your views on these two options, as well as suggestions for > alternatives. In my view, I believe neither of these scenarios fully > addresses the concerns you and many others have raised. > > Should the government's current review fail to be satisfactory, the PC Party > will examine possibly legislative action to make sure that this issue is > resolved. > > I thank you for taking the time to write to me on this important matter. > > Yours truly, > > Elsie Wayne, M.P. > > ==== NOVA-SCOTIA Mailing List ==== > For a list of other Canadian genealogy mailing lists and subscription > instructions, please visit: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail_country-can.html

To all:- I personally feel this is not the way Mrs. Elsie Wayne feels, as this following letter has already been received by others at least three times. The assistants must be kept busy at the photocopier!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee Dear Listers, Here is the response from Elsie Wayne - MP Saint John. Is basically rhetoric and does not indicate her personal support for census release. Ottawa September 12, 2000 Dear Mrs. Warren, I am writing in response to your email regarding the use of Census data for genealogical purposes. Rest assured the PC Party has pursued this issue with the Honourable John Manley, Minister responsible for Statistics Canada, since the fall of 1998. The government took some time before answering the enquiries of the PC Party, which wrote to Minister Manley on behalf of the many Canadians who have contacted us on this matter. Mr. Manley's responding correspondence states that he is considering two options submitted by Statistics Canada: * Amending the Statistics Act to allow records, starting with the 2001 Census, to be transferred to the National Archives of Canada and to be subsequently made available to the public; or * Retroactively changing the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act to allow the 1911 Census and all censuses taken thereafter to be eventually placed in the public domain. In either scenario proposed by Statistics Canada, 92 years would need to elapse from the time of the respective Census before the public would be permitted to access these records, which is in keeping with current regulations pursuant to the Privacy Act. I would welcome your views on these two options, as well as suggestions for alternatives. In my view, I believe neither of these scenarios fully addresses the concerns you and many others have raised. Should the government's current review fail to be satisfactory, the PC Party will examine possibly legislative action to make sure that this issue is resolved. I thank you for taking the time to write to me on this important matter. Yours truly, Elsie Wayne, M.P. ==== NOVA-SCOTIA Mailing List ==== For a list of other Canadian genealogy mailing lists and subscription instructions, please visit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail_country-can.html

To all who like easy access to GenWeb sites:- <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> Scroll down to OTHER SITES >>>>>>>>> Yukon GenWeb You will see the following lines. Click on "POST 1901 CENSUS PROJECT" !! IMPORTANT NEWS !! POST 1901 CENSUS PROJECT Protect Canadian Census Records From Destruction Add your voice to those concerned about the 'Sealed Census Issue' Also, you will be able to access the GenWeb sites of the various provinces by clicking on the letters denoting the province, for example, NS = Nova Scotia. Do you carry a PETITION for either House of Commons or Senate? Take a petition, visit all your friends, before mailing the petition to either Gordon Watts or myself as directed, make a copy of it. Reason: You will have updated addresses of your friends!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee

Many thanks, Alain, for posting the government URL on the QUEBEC list. There are many searching for family members -- some are former Home Children, others have moved away and contact lost. I know many will appreciate this site. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee Alain Gariépy wrote: > Hi Kim > Have a look at this URL > > http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/ > > It's bilingual > > Alain Gariepy <garala@sympatico.ca>

To all:- Gordon Watts has updated the Member of Parliament Scoreboard as of Sept. 12, 2000. Totals are the same:- GOLD - in favour ------- 92 RED X - NO----------------- 8 Non-Committal--------- 57 [those Green Fences!] No Answers---------------144 [Blue ????] We have yet to hear from Joe Clark or Stockwell Day. Scott Brison [Kings-Hants] had a GOLD tick -- we hope Joe Clark will also be supportive -- if anyone has an e-mail address for him, either let me know or contact him personally. Jim Hart had a GOLD "YES" mark -- wonder if Stockwell Day will support one of his own members, Jason Kenney, Sept. 20, 2000 at 6:30 EST, and his Motion M-160. To date, he has not replied. Please keep letters going to Members of Parliament -- do not worry about John Manley -- he is given copies of all letters!!! We want him to keep reading the very special report! Keep PETITIONS coming -- another one this morning with 33 signatures from a Canadian and directed to the Senate. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee

To Catherine Keill:- I would have preferred a different answer from someone representing Mrs. Elsie Wayne -- she is listed with a YES/NO reply re support of Post-1901 Canadian census records release. Mrs. Wayne reminds me of Mayor Hazel McCallion, City of Mississauga, next door to Brampton -- same age, full of vitality. Check <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/index6.htm> Click on New Brunswick -- many of us hope the Green Fence is soon changed to a GOLD tick, meaning YES, as she rightly deserves. Sincerely hope you discuss this with Mrs. Wayne, and that she gives her PERSONAL answer. We have had many assistants answering incorrectly -- this is why I must question your reply. We prefer to show the true opinion of the Member of Parliament. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> >>>>>OTHER SITES ===================================== Ottawa September 12, 2000 Dear Mrs. Davidson, I would like to thank you for forwarding your recent Email to our office. Please rest assured that your concerns will be brought to Mrs. Wayne's attention at the earliest possible convenience. As always, Mrs. Wayne will review your correspondence and any necessary action will be taken immediately. Should you have any further information to provide on this, or any other issue in the future, please feel free to contact Mrs. Wayne, or any of her staff, at any time. Again thank you for your letter. With regards, Catherine Keill Legislative Assistant & Research Co-ordinator Office of Elsie Wayne, MP Deputy Leader, PC Party of Canada Room 436N, Centre Block Tel - (613) 947-4572 Fax- (613) 947-4574 =========================== -----Original Message----- From: Muriel M. Davidson [mailto:davidson3542@home.com] Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 8:50 PM To: Elsie Wayne - MP; davidson3542@home.com; wseverin@nbnet.nb.ca Subject: We are Looking for YES Voters!!!! To Elsie Wayne, M.P.:- I just checked the Member of Parliament Scoreboard -- you are still sitting on a very uncomfortable piece of GREEN FENCEand I had hoped you would change your mind and not "follow the crowd" with either BLUE ??? (no reply) or GREEN FENCE (YES or NO). Is there any hope YOU might change? The Scoreboard will be published in every province prior to a federal election -- the little old lady who does family history is one of your VOTERS, it will be regardless of province. By now you will likely know the Report of the Expert Panel was given to Liberal Member John Manley on June 30, 2000. To date we do not know WHY we, you and I, who contributed to the expenses involved re this report, are not allowed to view or know contents of the report. The Progressive Conservative Party seems to have a good YES record, we would like to make it unanimous. I do agree with Joe Clark and the Young Offender's Act -- it sure as heck needs changing -- giving the police on the beat a bit of authority. Imagine you were trying to put together a simple family history, from the period of 1881 as far as possible. You would be able to access 1891 and 1901 census records. From then on, you would have a big blank wall, thanks to the government. In Manitoba, the first Canadian census of 1906 should have been released in 1998 -- the government intervened. <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> -- Go to OTHER SITES You will find submissions to the Expert Panel, including Genetically Inherited Diseases, submitted by myself with help from others. There is a great deal of information prepared for you and others -- one of our committee members reads Hansard. The various Bills have been listed -- just click on the number. Check http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/index6.htm Click on New Brunswick -- admire your pretty little piece of fence, we hope it is changed. Read THE MYTHS OF CENSUS by Gordon Watts -- it covers all the truths that have been kept from OUR elected Members of Parliament. Also, MEMORANDUM OF LAW by Lois Sparling for prairie provinces. Looking forward for an early reply, Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee Brampton Centre riding 25 Crestview Avenue Brampton, ON L6W 2R8 1-905-451-3542 <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html>

To Stockwell Day <day@canadianalliance.ca> Congratulations, Mr. Day, on your victory in British Columbia -- we are very happy for you as you look forward to your seat in the House of Commons! CPAC should become very interesting -- as Joe Clark also won his riding of Kings-Hants, in my native province. Many Canada-wide residents have one main question:- "Would you, as an elected Member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public, of Post 1901 Census Records, 92 years after they were recorded. ( 1911 census information available in 2003, 1921 in 2013 etc)" As the House of Commons Sessions resume Sept. 18, your induction Sept. 19, Canadians will be listening and watching to see IF you back one of your Canadian Alliance Party Members on Sept. 20, 2000. Jason Kenney, an Alberta MP, has the third hour of debate on Motion M-160, Sept. 20, 2000, about 6:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. What will your decision be -- to support Jason Kenney? Now that the election day is over, you will have time for a bit of reading: http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census - There is a great deal here, from reasons, history, petitions, OTHER SITES. Check THE MYTHS OF CENSUS, plus my Genetically Inherited Diseases. http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/index6.htm - Will you be eligible for the GOLD tick Jim Hart had received? http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html - This site will become a Canada-wide genealogical forum when we know the Post-1901 Canadian census records will be released. Gordon A. Watts <gordon_watts@telus.net> is one of your fellow residents of British Columbia -- check the scoreboard and OTHER SITES. Sincerely hope, as a beginning, you will be in support of Jason Kenney and his Motion M-160. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee

Hi List, As some of you know, I have the Historic Plaques of Ontario website. Some plaques stick out in my mind more than others. I've put in double brackets what is important in this plaque in regards to the Canada Census Campaign. We need more politicians like Agnes who vote with their conscious and not with their bosses. AGNES CAMPBELL MACPHAIL 1890 - 1954 The first woman elected to the parliament of Canada was born on a nearby farm in Proton Township. In 1919 women had received the right to sit in the federal house, and in that year Agnes MacPhail joined the United Farmers of Ontario. Elected as a Progressive for Grey in 1921, she retained her seat until 1940. A strong and eloquent speaker, [[ she always maintained her independence from party policies, ]] and was concerned mainly with agricultural affairs, prison reform and the welfare of the aged. In 1942 she joined the provincial C.C.F. party and represented East York in the Ontario legislature 1943-45 and 1948-51. Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board Wayne Cook http://www.waynecook.com (A History Television Approved Site) and your Host for the Simcoe County Genweb page at http://www.waynecook.com/simcoe.shtml Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada 1. Historic Plaques of Ontario 622 Plaques online, part of the Historic Plaques of the World Project, Provincial & State Hosts neededl 2. The Canadian Query Boards at http://www.waynecook.com/bulletin.html

To readers:- Go to: <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> Scroll down to "Other Sites" -- click on Genetically Inherited Diseases This was a submission from myself, with assistance from all listed there, (some names have been withheld) to the Expert Panel -- mailed in April, 2000. The Recommendations are my own -- will be anxious to learn if any will be accepted for the future. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee >>>>>>>>>>>>>>..............................<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Recommendations --A question to be added (or substituted) to the 2001 census questions, asking for people to list known Genetically Inheritable Diseases with a YES or NO. Reason: The present question, " deaf, dumb, blind, insane" and others have been criticized by many. Instead, should I find a YES to any one of these, it would be treated as an answer to a possibly previously unexplained medical condition. --At present children being adopted are received in basically the WYSIWYG -- What You See Is What You Get -- manner and adoption system. Complete medical history of both father and mother (if possible), blood types, known genetically inheritable diseases, should be part of the adoption process. Names of real parents, locality of birth are NOT part of a medical history. --Census records of people in institutions of long term care:- Back in 1901 and 1911, also earlier, many family members were admitted to "poor farms", county homes or insane asylums. To my knowledge, there are no census records of these members of a family -- they were locked away as if they never existed. Mental illness seems to be a taboo subject - but one that needs diagnosis. NOTE:- I have learned SOME institutions provided records, others did not.

The following URL is a leading story from The Halifax Herald, with the discussions ongoing as of today. Craig Oliver will be reporting periodically. This is a good opportunity to get acquainted with CPAC -- the Public Affairs Channel -- I tune into 70 with Cable TV. Muriel <davidson3542@home.com> http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2000/09/11/f172.raw.html

Greetings All This morning I received an email with the following. While it is off topic, once I picked myself up off the floor I realized that it had a little bearing on some of my remarks in my recent posting about New Beginnings. Hope you get as big a kick out of it as I have. Happy Hunting.. Gordon ============================== A guy named David received a parrot for his birthday. The parrot was fully grown, with a bad attitude and worse vocabulary. Every other word was an expletive. Those that weren't expletives were, to say the least, rude. David tried hard to change the bird's attitude and was constantly saying polite words, playing soft music, anything he could think of to try and set a good example. Nothing worked. He yelled at the bird and the bird yelled back. He shook the bird and the bird just got more angry and more rude. Finally, in a moment of desperation, David put the parrot in the freezer. For a few moments he heard the bird squawk and kick and scream. Then suddenly there was quiet. Not a sound for half a minute. David was frightened that he might have hurt the bird and quickly opened the freezer door. The parrot calmly stepped out onto David's extended arm and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I will endeavour at once to correct my behaviour. I really am truly sorry and beg your forgiveness." David was astonished at the bird's change in attitude and was about to ask what had made such a dramatic change when the parrot continued, "May I ask what the chicken did?"

Hi Thomas. I have seen a couple of similar complaints and experienced the same thing myself with a different PDF from government websites. I complained to the webmaster but basically did not get a satisfactory response. I have never had the same problem from non-government websites. My solution was to save the file when it downloaded rather than opening it, and opening it later after going off-line. Just remember where you save it, or use the method that Jacqui mentioned. Happy Hunting. Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Lynch" <lyncan@col.auracom.com> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, 10 September, 2000 6:09 PM Subject: [CCC-L] Invironetics Report When I click on the StatsCan link for this document, Acrobat opens, but nothing appears except a blank screen. Anyone else having this problem. Acrobat 4 in use. Tom Lynch ----- Original Message ----- From: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: September 10, 2000 4:47 PM Subject: CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-D Digest V00 #272

Greetings All. I would like to add my comments to Muriel's recent posting relating to a NEW BEGINNING. I must agree that when writing to our elected representatives, no matter how angry we might be with their responses, or lack thereof, to our letters and email, we should use a degree of caution in the language we use to communicate further with them. It is possible to write strongly worded letters that get our points and frustration across, without being abusive. I suggest that is the route we should take. Calling MPs names or being otherwise abusive in our letters is likely to anger them and make them less responsive to our concerns than they might otherwise be. We could in fact turn someone around who tended to support us, even though they have not said so, and cause them to go in the other direction. There are many different ways of saying the same thing. Any message to your MP (or others) should state your purpose firmly, but also as fairly and eloquently as possible. Even though you may personally feel it warranted, due to any number of reasons, to insult someone in government from whom you hope to receive positive assistance in the Census issue may be folly. It could, in fact, weaken their resolve to be positively objective in their final assessment of this issue! Thanks to many thousands of Canadians, and others, who have written and emailed, and signed petitions, a tremendous amount of pressure has been brought to bear on the Government regarding this issue. With the upcoming federal election looming, voters concerns will be overlooked by MPs to their own peril! Common sense should dictate that information on censuses, taken 92 years before it is available to the public, will be primarily of interest only to those seeking their ancestry. In writing or sending email to our own Members of Parliament we should reasonably expect that we get some kind of response. Sending to MPs other than our own, we may or may not receive a response. I find it interesting that a number of MPs have acknowledged email from non-constituents by sending a notice requesting a mailing address, stating that they do not respond to people outside of their constituency. Quite frankly, I think it would be simpler to respond to the original email to begin with. As frustrating as it may be to us, we are unlikely to receive a definitive response to our questions from any Cabinet member, especially John Manley. I have no knowledge of this, but suppose that Mr. Manley completely supports our quest for access to Historic Census. If such were the case it is very unlikely that he would make that support known until he was prepared to submit a Bill on behalf of the government. If we hope that we have his support, should we then jeopardize it by calling him names or being otherwise abusive? This is not to say that we should not continue to write to our MPs seeking support for access to Historic Census, or to John Manley seeking release to the public of the Report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census. We must continue to do so. We should, however, choose our phraseology to be firm, but polite, while getting our points across. I have, on occasion, been accused of using too many words. Can you believe that ??? <]:-) Happy Hunting. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC Keep up to date on Post 1901 Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census and http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petitions now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm