To all:- I sincerely hope this situation does not happen to many who are researching family members in institutional care in 1901, 1891. The family members were forgotten by all, except family members -- census records do not seem to exist - only records of the home, but these are only available if the administrator wishes to comply. The following is an example:- HILLSVIEW ACRES, Middlefield, Queens County, Nova Scotia was once known as the Poor Farm or County Home. Family members were placed there, for one reason or another -- I have been able to extract some data from the present administrator who regards the crumbling old records as his personal property, will not allow these to be computerized. There were definitely no census records of the residents in above years. Was this a Canada-wide situation? Re one family member, I have learned when he was admitted, and by whom - also date of death. So far I cannot learn where he is buried, although the Home cemetery is nearby. As for non-computerized records, when these crumble it will be as if the person never existed. To Gerald Keddy:- I have one contact, a Queens County Municipal Councillor whose sister has been there for many years. In your capacity as Member of Parliament for the South Shore riding, I sincerely hope you look into this -- there are staff members available for computerizing the lists of residents -- ONLY THE NAMES OF DECEASED SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. Lunenburg County has published some lists of deceased residents from the Dayspring Home - at least these people existed. Are there many more situations like this across Canada???? Please let us know -- there was a question on the 1911 census to be answered by family members, at least. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html> Check THE MYTHS OF CENSUS by Gordon A. Watts.

To all listers:- Many genealogists, historians and ordinary family researchers like myself use the Canadian census records for verification of family facts. In many cases, these records are the only source other than wills and deeds, as many denominational records are sealed. In many cases, these have not been kept or have been burned. Gordon A. Watts has spent many hours researching THE MYTHS OF CENSUS, a very well-done bit of research for all to study. Senator Lorna Milne has already used a great deal of Gordon Watts' research in her recent speeches, keeping the census matter alive while we wait for the report by May 31, 2000 from the appointed Expert Panel. For those who want to learn more about THE MYTHS OF CENSUS, all except the copyright data has been posted on two sites, to date. LCCCC <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html> This URL bookmarks as Post 1901, with present reader number 12458. Go to THE MYTHS OF CENSUS by Gordon A. Watts. This will take you to <http://www.waynecook.com/census.html> Wayne Cook has this posted on the CAN-ONT-SIMCOE-L@rootsweb.com list Happy reading -- Any comments??? We would love them!!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Gordon A. Watts <gordon_watts@telus.net>

To all listers:- Many genealogists, historians and ordinary family researchers like myself use the Canadian census records for verification of family facts. In many cases, these records are the only source other than wills and deeds, as many denominational records are sealed. In many cases, these have not been kept or have been burned. Gordon A. Watts has spent many hours researching THE MYTHS OF CENSUS, a very well-done bit of research for all to study. Senator Lorna Milne has already used a great deal of Gordon's research in her recent speeches, keeping the census matter alive while we wait for the report by May 31, 2000 from the appointed Expert Panel. For those who want to learn more about THE MYTHS OF CENSUS, all except the copyright data has been posted on two sites, to date. LCCCC <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html> This URL bookmarks as Post 1901, with present reader number 12458. Go to THE MYTHS OF CENSUS by Gordon A. Watts. This will take you to <http://www.waynecook.com/census.html> Wayne Cook has this posted on the CAN-ONT-SIMCOE-L@rootsweb.com list Happy reading -- Any comments??? We would love them!!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Gordon A. Watts <gordon_watts@telus.net>

Hi Phil. Sorry for not responding to this sooner but I have been up to my eyeballs with a number of things including a family crisis that will be ongoing for some time. As you advised Mr. White of the URL for the Census Project Pages you have no doubt read some of my considerable correspondence with him last year. It appears that he has not changed his position about our concerns. In his response to you, and others, he is incorrect on a number of points, not the least of which is when the Expert Panel is due to bring down their report. He stated the report was due in the Fall. It is actually due not later than 31 May 2000. He obvious does not have any idea of what he is talking about on this subject. His basic stand is "don't confuse me with the facts -- I have made up my mind". I have viewed Mr. White on CPAC a number of times and he impresses me no more in person than he has in his writing and "moralistic" excuses. I am working at updating the Scoreboard at the moment and will be changing Mr. White's fence to a cross. Thank you for your interest and support. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Port Coquitlam, BC ICQ # 9183352 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 ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil & Helen JOHNSON <helnphil@telusplanet.net> To: Gordon A. WATTS <gordon_watts@telus.net>; <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, 10 April, 2000 9:37 PM Subject: Re:MP's Response Hi Gordon. Last night I sent this brief note to North Vancouver MP Ted White just following up on his position on the scorecard (?). Hello Mr. White. Would you please advise your thoughts regarding the release of Canadian census material 92 years after the information is gathered. I see on the scoreboard that you have made no decission to date as to how to deal with a vote when such an event comes up in the house. Your attitude is important to all Canadians. Our future generations will be very unhappy if the records of their history are made incomplete due to our politicians being selfish and lacking vision. Sincerely, Philip Johnson Visit this site and write or e-mail http://globalgenealogy.com/census/ thank you Tonight I received a reply in the form of a lengthy attachement which I forward for all those interested. At least I received an answer and I am appreciative of that. From his response I would think Mr. White is off the fence and on the wrong side for us. It would seem there is more to be done if we are to encourage politicians such as Mr. White to consider some form of repeal or other overriding legislation. Some sdjustment to the political thought process, to get them beyond thinking only of the current generations, could become a major project for like thinking Canadians. Phil Memo Date : April 10, 2000 To : Mr. Philip Johnson >From : Ted White, MP (North Vancouver) Subject : Access to Census Info Dear Mr. Johnson: I am responding to your email message of April 10, 2000 regarding the release of post 1901 Census information. There is a great deal of misunderstanding amongst those who are interested in Census material as to the reason the Census material is no longer available, so I should first explain the cause of the "problem". In the early part of this century a privacy law was passed which guaranteed that for any Census taken after 1901, the privacy of individuals would be protected and no information would be released to the public. This ended the previously existing condition which allowed the release of Census material after 92 years. Unfortunately, the situation cannot now be altered for Census taking between 1901 and the present time, because to release information after having promised not to do so would be both immoral and improper. Those who took part in any Census between 1901 and the present time had a government guarantee that no information would be released. The fight you are presently engaged in should have been launched by those who were interested in genealogical research in 1901, and not left until 1999. It is now too late to change the law for Census taking of the past 90 years or so. The most that could be done, and the Government has shown no interest in pursuing this course of action, would be to introduce a law which would once again permit the release of Census information after 92 years, starting with the next Census. However, it is unlikely that any genealogical researcher alive today would be around in 92 years to have the benefit of the change in the law. It is highly unlikely anyway, even if a new law was introduced, that it would ever be passed, because the public outcry over privacy would soon put an end to the initiative. I realize that the above information will be disappointing for you, but luckily, the Internet has come along just at the right time and I am sure that you have discovered already that a great deal of genealogical research can be done on the Internet. There is no doubt that over the next few years more and more QUALITY information of value to genealogists will be on the Internet - it can only get better. It is not the same as going through Census records, but there is now no alternative. If you wish to continue your lobbying efforts, you should concentrate on the Government as the Liberals are the only ones who could decide at this stage to change the law. The Minister of Industry, the Honourable John Manley, recently announced a Task Force to report back to him by the Fall of this year. Yours truly, Ted White, MP North Vancouver PS: I have attached with this email a copy of a report I wrote for the North Shore News on this subjcet on October 6, 1999. THE SECRET CENSUS Way back in 1918, the federal government of the day passed into law a new Statistics Act, perhaps without even realizing that the full effect of one of the clauses in the Bill would not be felt for almost 80 years. That Clause, 15(1), reads, in part: "No individual return, and no part of an individual return made, and no answer to any question put, for the purposes of this Act, shall, without the previous consent in writing of the person... be published, nor, except for the purposes of a prosecution under this Act, any person not engaged in connection with the Census be permitted to see any such individual return or any such part of any individual return". So what, you may ask, has been the effect of this clause so many years later? PROTECTING PRIVACY The obvious intent of Clause 15(1) was to entrench into the law of the land a privacy guarantee for individuals who provided information for the purpose of the Census. The provision had actually been introduced as a regulation in 1906, so was in force for the 1906, 1911, and 1916 Census taking prior to becoming part of the new Statistics Act. The effect of the regulation, and its subsequent entrenchment into law, is to prevent access to individual census records by any individual except the person who completed the return. So, while all of this happened a long time ago, and may not even sound very important in 1999, it is only just beginning to have a tremendous impact on the work of genealogists, demographic researchers, and historians. Up until now, anyone carrying out genealogical research in Canada has been able to access individual census data after 92 years. This meant that, for example, someone trying to trace his or her family tree, could work back through the old census records, once they were released, finding out where relatives had lived, who married who, and so on. Unfortunately for researchers though, because the privacy regulation took effect prior to the 1906 census, the last set of census records which could be released were those associated with the 1901 census. They were released in 1993 as expected, but when 1998 rolled around, and researchers began looking for the 1906 records, they experienced for the first time the impact of the 1906 regulation. PROTESTS The first email messages, letters, and phonecalls protesting the new secrecy surrounding old census records began reaching my office in March. It was pointed out in these communications that census data can be accessed in the USA after 72 years, and in the UK after 100 years, and I was asked why Canada should be any different? After all, very few, if any, people who filled out the 1906 Census are still alive today, and even if they were, why would they care about family records from so long ago? Along with the mail being sent to me, MPs across the country were being lobbied by genealogists, and individuals trying to trace their family trees, demanding that the records of the 1906 Census be released, and asking for a law to be passed to cancel the 1918 privacy provision. As I pointed out to everyone who contacted me, MPs would be faced with a significant moral dilemma in terms of passing a Bill which would retroactively remove privacy provisions, because everyone who has filled out a census since 1906 has had a government guarantee that none of the information in their return would be released without their written permission. If the Government moved to break a solemn promise of privacy in this instance, how could anyone trust the privacy promises associated with Revenue Canada returns, CPP records, and so on? As a result, there would likely be a firestorm of public protest over any attempt to retroactively remove privacy provisions. The only easy solution available to Government would be to pass a Bill re-establishing the release of census information after 92 years, starting with the next census. Unfortunately though, it is unlikely that any genealogist alive today will be around to look at those records, so correcting the problem in the long term does nothing to fix it in the short term. In addition, despite vigorous lobbying of the Minister of Industry, Hon. John Manley, by researchers and genealogists, there is no indication whatsoever that the Government intends to do anything about the situation. WHERE TO FROM HERE? As mentioned above, there is no easy fix to a problem involving past promises of privacy, and it may even be impossible to find a way to balance the need for access to historical information against respect for individual privacy. In addition, the issue is further complicated by recommendations in the 1994/95 Report of The Privacy Commissioner that all personalized records from the 1991 Census, as well as all other census records not already in the public domain, should be destroyed once Statistics Canada has processed the data. Luckily, destruction of the records cannot happen without an amendment to the National Archives of Canada Act, and Statistics Canada has not yet acted upon the recommendation of The Privacy Commissioner, so for the meantime the old census records are still safely in storage. To this point in time, as mentioned above, there has been no indication from the Minister how he intends to handle this situation, and nobody appears to have come up with any creative solution which would deal effectively with the competing interests. I am therefore encouraging you, if you are concerned about this issue, to drop a line to the Minister, outlining your suggestions, and/or asking him to come up with a solution of his own. You can reach Hon. John Manley by mail at The House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6, by email at Manley.J@parl.gc.ca, and by fax at (613) 992-3269 -- In Canada Researching: BANCROFT - Lincs, BARNFATHERr - London/ Middlesex, BESWITHERICK - Lancs, EBERLET - London/Middlesex FENWICK - Lincs and Notts GIBBS - London/Middlesex, JOHNSON - Lincs, NEWMAN - London/Middlesex. Dorset, PARKINSON - Lancs, SCHOLFIELD - London/Middlesex, STEPHENSON - Lancs, EDMONDSON - Lancs. KELLETT - Lancs. WILLOWS - Lincs FENEMORE - London/Middlesex HODGSON - Lancs.

----- Original Message ----- From: Esther Scott <jimest@netcom.ca> To: <Canada-Census-Campaign-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, 20 April, 2000 8:25 PM Subject: {not a subscriber} 1901 and future census release Sirs, It was with great dismay that I heard of the Canadian Governments intention to destroy all future census returns. This would be a dreadful loss to anyone who is interested in the history of their family in Canada. It is important to all who are involved in genealogy and would cause great hardship in their work. I hope the people responsible for this decision will give greater thought and realize that they are contemplating a disgraceful affront to all and in no way compromise anyone's privacy when the information is released for this purpose, using the usual dates of release. Regards, Esther Scott

To all listers:- The following letter will prove there is hope - if one has sufficient patience!!!! We will keep you updated on this very long search, with part of it to Paul Johnson of the Census Department. The letter was posted to Gordon Watts and myself. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> ========================================== Hello ~~ Muriel I will direct this to you, but I thought Gordon may find this of interest. I did a snail mail search for an uncle to Registrar in 1984, the search covered 1950 up to & including 1984. The Reg. Offices said this person was not dead. On a good stroke of luck, found this man & yes he is indeed dead, in 1978 to be exact. I sent some money & a letter off to the funeral home & they sent me a copy of the bill that they sent to The Office of the Public Trustee & a certificate of death. From this I called the PT office & spoke with the person who handled this case.....yes he is still working there. I was passed around & finally got an answer for my e-mail. They said they only had a laminated birth certificate & could not give this to me; but they were interested to know who I was & how much information I had on this man. I told them who I was & sent them a copy of a letter that I had sent to Mr. Paul Johnson. Muriel you may remember the letter, I sent you a copy of it to see what you thought. Anyway there was so much information, with government file numbers listed (one being the birth record for this man) that they reopened the case. They had no information on this man other then allegations. Well we have established that he was married between 1939-1943. We have not found any information on children though. I have even supplied the address from 1943.....now if one could only get at the census....just maybe we could find other info on him. I have even supplied the box number & file number to the records for the nursing home that this man lived in. That is in the archives in Toronto in the basement. I have asked if they would send me copies of anything they find & they said maybe....I guess this means what ever I could obtain on my own. Point here is it has been over 20 years. They had no information I have supplied & am still sending information via e-mail....because I'm still searching. They tell me that they may/may not be able to get at the census. (If they could then the search would be over.) I must say that if I was in the city of Toronto I would have found much more info then I have & yes there is a small amount of money....but it's the family information I'm after. I thought that all but my brother & I were left only to find out that there just may be 3 girls born to this man. By the time everything is released I'll be very old & these people will be dead if they are not already. I figure that if there are children they have to be in the 60's or more now. I would have thought that even in the 70's one would look at all variances on spelling of a last name, but then my brother was living in Weston about a half hour from Newmarket where this man died, he had his own house.. I just can't believe this is happening...so if they can't get at the census, what then? They did say special cases ...would this be one? Just letting off a little steam....but you two seem to know how this works better then I. Thanks for reading. (Name withheld)

To all:- HOME CHILDREN has been a top subject as people research any possible leads to their ancestry. The following was posted to NOVA-SCOTIA list by Gail Facini-Edwards <gail_f@email.msn.com> Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> ----Original Message----- From: Nancy Adams [mailto:njadams@nbnet.nb.ca] Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 5:25 PM To: NOVA-SCOTIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: {not a subscriber} HOME CHILDREN REUNION OF THE MIDDLEMORE HOME CHILDREN Held at St. Mary's Anglician Church Hall, McEvoy St. in Devon NB across the River from Fredericton. The meeting begins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday August 26, 2000. A pot luck supper is planned for 5:00 p.m. A special guest speaker, Mr. David Lorent from Renfew Ont. and Head of the Home Children of Canada, will be with us. If you are a Home Child or a descendant and would like to know more about your anscestors please come to this meeting. All descendants of Home Children are welcome not just from the Middlemore Home as many people are still unsure of their parents or grandparents orgin. Attending this meeting could be a great help to you. For more information contact any of the following: Roland Woodward--Woodstock NB 1-506-328-6210 Hazel Kirkpatrick--Apohaqui NB 1-506-433-1220 Marion Crawford--Belleisle Creek NB--1506-485-2848 or mcrawfd@nbnet.nb.ca Sheila Milburn--Fairvale NB 1-506-847-1289 Wendy Arsenault--Apohaqui NB 1-506-433-2923 Georgina MacDonald--Sussex Corner 1-506-433-1719

To all:- The following was received from Rosemary MacLellan following a posting that included a copy to her. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have not worked for Senator Milne since March and as such am no longer working on the file. Rosemary C. MacLellan Legislative Assistant to Senator Dan Hays, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate

To all:- I have not quite completed my submission, but will this week. We all have genetically inherited genes - but some are diseases. It would be nice to combine a wide variety of diseases for the Expert Panel. My submission will be mailed by the weekend. I had planned to mail earlier, but a sick computer prevented me from doing this. Should you wish to write a letter to my e-mail address, and LEAVE OFF YOUR NAME, I will not include your name. A Genetically Inherited Disease is one that shows up in two or more generations, not necessarily consecutive. It is only by having this knowledge, much heartache can be prevented, or some couples will decide not to have children. In lighter vein, there are genetically inherited genes such as my grandson discovered. He is the fourth one, as far as I know, in three generations to have to have dental surgery for wisdom teeth growing in horizontal, not vertical. Let us not confuse this with actual diseases. Hoping to hear from many, Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Brampton, Ontario

To all:- Our elected Members of Parliament are enjoying a vacation in their riding, we hope -- this will make it much easier to contact him/her personally. Go to <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> Check to see if YOUR Member of Parliament has a pretty GOLD tick mark (means YES), a RED "X" that means NO, or a BLUE QUESTION MARK. The blue question mark means he/she is undecided OR did not care enough to answer your letter. Your Member of Parliament is on vacation from the House of Commons at your expense, and be in possession of a BLUE X, plan to visit! Prepare a letter as if you would be mailing it, complete with name of riding and any title. Either call the riding office to see when your MP is in the office -- or take a chance. By putting the letter (in an envelope) into his/her hand, preferably in front of witnesses, there will be no question the letter was not received. While there, be sure to wish a Happy Easter to your Member. Let us know of any happy outcome -- and should you receive a reply, we do not need the whole letter, just the part that tells YES, NO or otherwise. Gordon Watts is Keeper of the Scoreboard and needs this information (before election). A letter can be typed on a computer (save to disk), or by hand but let your Member of Parliament know YOU expect a positive response when there is mention of census release, also Access to Information Act, Bill C-206. Should you prefer to mail your letter, postage is FREE Name & Riding / House of Commons / Parliament Buildings / Ottawa, Ontario KIA OA6. Happy writing!!! Keep the petitions coming!!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Brampton, Ontario 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

The following was posted by Paula Carr on the NFLD-LAB list. Many thanks, Paula -- we have all experienced the problems. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS FOR NAMES: 1). Thou shalt name your male children: James, John, Joseph, Josiah, Abel, Richard, Thomas, William (2) Thou shalt name your female children: Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, Maria, Sarah, Ida, Virginia, May (3) Thou shalt leave NO trace of your female children. (4) Thou shalt, after naming your children from the above lists, call them by strange nicknames such as: Ike, Eli, Polly, Dolly, Sukey.---making them difficult to trace. (5) Thou shalt NOT use any middle names on any legal documents or census reports, and only where necessary, you may use only initials on legal documents. (6) Thou shalt learn to sign all documents illegibly so that your surname can be spelled, or misspelled, in various ways: Hicks, Hicks, Hix, Hixe, Hucks, Kicks (7) Thou shalt, after no more then 3 generations, make sure that all family records are lost, misplaced, burned in a court house fire, or buried so that NO future trace of them can be found. (8) Thou shalt propogate misleading legends, rumors, & vague innuendo regarding your place of origin (A) You may have come from : England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales....or Iran. (B) You may have American Indian ancestry of the______tribe...... (C) You may have descended from one of three brothers that came over from______ (9) Thou shalt leave NO cemetery records, or headstones with legible names. (10) Thou shalt leave NO family Bible with records of birth, marriages, or deaths. (11) Thou shalt ALWAYS flip thy name around. If born James Albert, thou must make all the rest of thy records in the names of Albert, AJ, JA, AL, Bert, Bart, or Alfred. (12) Thou must also flip thy parent's names when making reference to them, although "Unknown" or a blank line is an acceptable alternative. And my own personal addition: Thou shalt name at least 5 generations of males, and dozens of their cousins with identical names in order to totally confuse researchers. ========= ~~~ Peace and Gentle Sunsets, Pam http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/4636 ______________________________

Please unsubscribe me from this list (and apologies that this isn't the address to request this)! ----- Original Message ----- From: Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> To: <\> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 10:50 PM Subject: [CCC-L] Re: post 1901 census release > Hi Michael:- > Every opinion and every letters is of assistance! To date, I have > received many, plus petitions, from all parts of United States, other > countries. > We sincerely hope our efforts will not be in vain -- we do not foresee > any real activity until after the report of the appointed Expert Panel. > > Many thanks again for writing, > > Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> > > > Michael R Madden wrote: > > > > I really do not know how much difference my opinion will make , > > however I do hope Canada will release the 1911 census. For those of us > > whose families moved across the border the census is a vital research > > tool. Genealogy must generate some income for Canada, I know that I > > visit Ontario every year on vacation to visit relatives and work on my > > hobby. In addition I purchase genealogical materials and belong to a > > local group in the Flint MI area that is buying the Ontario census > > films for the local library. Surely the Federal Government would see > > the benefit of bringing new resources on the market and getting me to > > spend my US dollars in Ontario! My family may not have been front page > > news but they were all recorded in the census. Hope that the campaign > > is successful > > > > > > regards, > > > > Michael R Madden > Flint, Michigan > >

To all:-- There is a real danger that, unless strong action is taken, it will be impossible for Canadians to ever have access to any more Canadian Census information. THERE MAY NEVER BE ANOTHER CENSUS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC In 1906 the revised law concerning the census put a new emphasis on privacy, therefore the 1906 Bill to stop release of all census information from the public eye. We feel that this is unfair to the Canadian public, genealogists and historians who use this information in tracing genetic diseases, and the settling of wills and estates, and with over 7.5 million Canadians engaged in the pursuit of their family heritage - this bill must be changed. WHAT WE CAN DO? Download and get friends and neighbours to sign the Census Petition to take whatever steps to amend this Statistics Act, to allow the release of Canadian Census, after a reasonable period of time, as approved by law. Send letters to YOUR Member of Parliament requesting that they support our cause. Get involved and put a Census Poll, Banner, Link, etc. on your own website. WRITE YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS!!! GET THESE PETITIONS SIGNED AND DELIVERED... DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE. ====================================== Thanks, Bryan -- for writing the above!!! Have YOU visited this site recently??? The counter is now at 12,325 since July 1, 1999 -- could we celebrate our first birthday with 15,000? There is a great deal at <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html> It will bookmark as Post 1901 - referring to the Canadian census. Have the speakers on -- great band music. Also, Barney Kaufman's stylized logo is available for YOUR web page -- I have it on mine and am proud of it being there! Become acquainted with this site -- it will not be disappearing WHEN we obtain release of the requested census records. This will be a coast-to-coast Canadian genealogical site for all to visit. There are connections to GenWeb sites and much, much more!!!! YOU will have to visit it to see for yourself! Also, if you wish to see photos of Senator Lorna Milne and Gerald Keddy, MP, you will find the links. Let's shock Bryan and watch the numbers climb -- above all, write your letters and get petitions signed -- the battle is not yet over! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Brampton Ontario Keep up-to-date on Post-1901 Canadian Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census 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

Thank you, Lois Sparling, for posting your legal opinion paper site. I realize that you have done this before, but as I am fairly new to this list, I had not seen it. It helped clarify, for me, the meaning and intentions of "Clause 15(1)" . Should the report of the Expert Panel go against us, or should our legislators decline to act, if it is favourable, are we prepared to launch a court challenge?? ********************************* Judy Stamp Schroder Port Hope, ON stamp@sympatico.ca

To all listers:- I am gradually getting back into the swing of things -- but believe I should have added vitamins to the computer with a larger hard-drive!!!! In the meantime, here are a few SUGGESTIONS to keep "the elected ones" busy and also to let us know we are still asking to have the Post-1901 Canadian census records released. Write/type a one-page letter which will be suitable for all Members of Parliament of the House of Commons. Allow space for name and riding of the Member, and the address: House of Commons, Parliament Bldgs., Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 Postage will be FREE. Go to <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> Should any names of Members of Parliament have BLUE question marks, copy down the names, a few at a time, complete with riding name. Turn on your word processor or whatever you use -- plus the printer -- type in the name of the first one, PRINT, then repeat the process for as many as you wish at one time. You MUST sign your name and full address. DO NOT USE E-MAILS ---- these are only counted, letters are read. An actual decision of release of the census records will be made in the House of Commons, so a HUGE lot of AGGRAVATION is needed to keep them reminded we are still here. Concentrate on LIBERAL members -- this is the majority of members and it is strange, they all think alike! The agitators are in other groups, so we need to send them letters as well. My system is to watch CPAC and send an e-mail, casually mentioning CENSUS, if I have liked any happenings of the day. I have had replies from many - and they mentioned census!!!! The list of 31 groups and 10,871 members from Quebec was NOT an actual petition, but a way of showing how many backed release of census. The appointed Expert Panel will shortly be releasing its report -- for our guidance and future activity. Let's plan on giving the "blue question mark" Members of Parliament a huge paper WELCOME BACK following the Easter recess. Several listers are already sending notes to Members -- but not E-MAILS. These are "counted and stacked according to data". HAPPY EASTER in advance to all Members of Parliament!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Brampton, Ontario 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

Hi Michael:- Every opinion and every letters is of assistance! To date, I have received many, plus petitions, from all parts of United States, other countries. We sincerely hope our efforts will not be in vain -- we do not foresee any real activity until after the report of the appointed Expert Panel. Many thanks again for writing, Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> > Michael R Madden wrote: > > I really do not know how much difference my opinion will make , > however I do hope Canada will release the 1911 census. For those of us > whose families moved across the border the census is a vital research > tool. Genealogy must generate some income for Canada, I know that I > visit Ontario every year on vacation to visit relatives and work on my > hobby. In addition I purchase genealogical materials and belong to a > local group in the Flint MI area that is buying the Ontario census > films for the local library. Surely the Federal Government would see > the benefit of bringing new resources on the market and getting me to > spend my US dollars in Ontario! My family may not have been front page > news but they were all recorded in the census. Hope that the campaign > is successful > > > regards, > > Michael R Madden Flint, Michigan

Dear List My Memorandum of Law, which was submitted as an appendix to the Alberta family History Society's position paper to the Expert Panel, is online at: http://www.calcna.ab.ca/afhs/censuslaw.html For those unaccustomed to reading legal memorandums, the focus is much more on what normal people might consider legal technicalities and previous court decisions than would a position paper or argument presented to the general public. The language is also pretty stilted and repetitive. The purpose is to weigh the chances of success of a court action to compel the release of the 1906 and 1911 census returns. Lois Sparling Calgary, Alberta

Hi List, Here is an excerpt from Gordon Watts' submission to the Expert Panel. Personally, I think the government should read it over and over again until they get it through their thick heads that common sense must prevail. If we acted on all the archaic laws that are still on the books half the population would be in jail and the other half would be awaiting trial. Regards Beginning of quote In this reference to the final sentence of Clause 23, above, Mr. Flaherty stated: "One could hardly interpret this directive as prohibiting the release of individual census schedules at any later date." Elsewhere in this same document Mr. Flaherty quotes Congressmen Simon and McKay who spoke before a Subcommittee of the House of Representatives in the United States on 17 November 1975. Congressman Simon argued that the general populace recognizes some limits on confidentiality: ‘People expect some day records may be opened.’ Congressman McKay argued that ‘adequate confidentiality can be preserved at the same time census data is used for beneficial research and study.’ Congressman McKay stated further: "Presidential proclamations introducing the taking of censuses have never promised complete secrecy. Rather, they have promised that the information would definitely not be used for such purposes as tax law enforcement, selection of juries by the courts, or induction into the armed forces. The proclamations also included a more general promise that the information would not be used to the respondent’s damage, detriment or disadvantage. Such language leaves open the possible future use of census data by groups with legitimate interests, provided that no harm is perpetrated on the enumerated." One might think that Congressman McKay had been reading the Instructions to Officers and Enumerators of Census in Canada, from as early as 1871. End of Quote 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 553 plaques Online, part of the Historic Plaques of the World Project, Provincial and State hosts needed 2. CANADIAN QUERY BOARDS http://www.waynecook.com/bulletin.html

Anyone with an interest in the statutes and legal issues should read Gordon Watts submission to the Expert Panel as he discusses these in detail. You can read it at two sites: http://globalgazette.net/gazce/gazce53.htm or http://www.waynecook.com Committee member Lois Sparling is a lawyer and has sent a legal brief to the Panel that comes to different conclusions from reading the law than does Statistics Canada. The wording of our Statistics Act is virtually identical to similar laws in the United States and Great Britain with its limitation of use to statistical purposes only, the denial of any access to personal schedules except by Statistics Office personnel, etc. but that hasn't stopped those two countries from releasing their historical censuses to public access. Those countries don't recognize their statistitics acts as the last word on access that Statistics Canada claims they have. The whole world does it differently but apparently they're all wrong and only Canada has got it right. I think not. Don Nisbet < dnisbet@vcn.bc.ca > ----- Original Message ----- From: j schroder <stamp@sympatico.ca> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 5:35 AM Subject: [CCC-L] looking for loopholes... > >That > >Clause, 15(1), reads, in part: > > "No individual return, and no part of an individual return made, and no > >answer to any question put, for the purposes of this Act, shall, without the > >previous consent in writing of the person... be published, nor, except for > >the purposes of a prosecution under this Act, any person not engaged in > >connection with the Census be permitted to see any such individual return or > >any such part of any individual return". > > Roz Griston wrote: "now, do we have a lawyer amongst us..or access to a lawyer" > > Seems to me that is what we need...a constitutional lawyer, that can look for loopholes in this 1918 privacy act. All the other arguments seem to become moot in the face of this 82-year old legislation, and any repeal of this legislation would only apply ( as Ted White, MP, North Vancouver states) to census returns from 2001 on. > > Is it possible, for instance, to have a standard form that can be signed by any genealogist researching the census, making them an "official census researcher". Would this satisfy the clause: "any person not engaged in > connection with the Census be permitted to see any such individual return "?? > > We would still be prevented from putting the census up on the Net, but could perhaps get individual access. > > ********************************* > Judy Stamp Schroder > Port Hope, ON > stamp@sympatico.ca > > >

>That >Clause, 15(1), reads, in part: > "No individual return, and no part of an individual return made, and no >answer to any question put, for the purposes of this Act, shall, without the >previous consent in writing of the person... be published, nor, except for >the purposes of a prosecution under this Act, any person not engaged in >connection with the Census be permitted to see any such individual return or >any such part of any individual return". Roz Griston wrote: "now, do we have a lawyer amongst us..or access to a lawyer" Seems to me that is what we need...a constitutional lawyer, that can look for loopholes in this 1918 privacy act. All the other arguments seem to become moot in the face of this 82-year old legislation, and any repeal of this legislation would only apply ( as Ted White, MP, North Vancouver states) to census returns from 2001 on. Is it possible, for instance, to have a standard form that can be signed by any genealogist researching the census, making them an "official census researcher". Would this satisfy the clause: "any person not engaged in connection with the Census be permitted to see any such individual return "?? We would still be prevented from putting the census up on the Net, but could perhaps get individual access. ********************************* Judy Stamp Schroder Port Hope, ON stamp@sympatico.ca