To Pamela White:- This letter is OLD copy, without the signature of The Hon. Brian Tobin, MP. Could we have revised and new letters for all to send -- just a change of pace!! Looking forward to the early release of 1906 and 1911 census records, as suggested by the Expert Panel. When you find my hard-copy letter, could I please receive one from Mr. Tobin? When I look at the Newfoundland Census Scoreboard, Mr. Tobin has a large BLUE ? -- meaning he has not answered re his feelings about census release. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee member [Originally from Nova Scotia -- close to Newfoundland!] http://globalgenealogy.com/census/index6.htm [Click on Newfoundland] =========================================== pamela.white@statcan.ca wrote: > Your e-mail of December 18, 2000, to the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister > Responsible for Statistics Canada, on the subject of the release of > post-1901 Canadian census records has been passed to Statistics Canada for > response. > > There has been considerable public debate and interest on the part of > genealogists, historians and archivists who had expected that the 1911 > census records would be publicly available in 2003, 92 years after the > taking of the census. Recognizing the importance of historical research > but also taking into account the privacy concerns of Canadians, an Expert > Panel on Access to Historical Census Records was created to provide > independent, expert advice on the legal, privacy and archival implications > of releasing historical census records. > > The report from the Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records > was released on December 15th by Minister Tobin. In his announcement, the > Minister indicated that further broad based consultation with all > Canadians is needed in order to ensure that, if access to historical > census records is provided, it is done in a manner that respects the > government's deep commitment to privacy. This consultation will take > place as part of the already announced administrative and legislative > review of the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act. > > A copy of the news release announcing the Expert Panel's report follows. > > Pamela White > Director > Data Access and Control Services > > __________________________________________________________________________ > > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > December 15, 2000 > > > Minister Tobin Releases the Report from the Expert Panel > on Access to Historical Census Records > > Ottawa -- Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for > Statistics Canada, today released the report from the Expert Panel on > Access to Historical Census Records. In releasing the report, Mr. Tobin > conveyed the government's appreciation to the members of the Expert Panel > for their work and for the time and effort they invested in this important > matter. > > The Minister indicated that the issues at stake are complex and far > reaching. The government is committed to protecting the privacy rights of > Canadians who were given an assurance of confidentiality at the time they > completed the 1911 Census while, at the same time, the government must > consider the legitimate needs of genealogists and others for access to > historical census records. > > In light of these concerns the Minister indicated that further broad based > consultation with all Canadians is needed. This consultation will take > place as part of the already announced administrative and legislative > review of the Access to Information and the Privacy Acts. > > The government's primary reason for undertaking additional consultation is > to ensure that, if access to historical census records is provided, this > is done in a manner that respects the government's deep commitment to > privacy. > > To find out more about the report from the Expert Panel on Access to > Historical Census Records, please visit the web site at www.statcan.ca. > > -30- > > For further information, please contact Heidi Bonnell, Press Secretary, > Office of the Minister of Industry at (613) 995-9001. > > Ce communiqué est aussi disponible en français.