Greetings All. I copy the following for your information. Gordon ---------------------------------------- Dear Mr Watts, In response to your email, the Expert Panel Report was delivered to Minister Manley on June 30, 2000 and it is the responsibility of the Minister to decide when it will be released. Once I am made aware of the release date, I would be most pleased to inform you and let you how you may obtain a copy. Regarding the Public Opinion Research, I am waiting for the translated version so that the final copy in both languages can be sent to PWGSC. The final report from Environics provides the questions that were asked in the surveys and the focus group discussion guide. These materials should address the questions that you have asked in your e-mail. Again, thank you for the electronic copies of your submission to the Expert Panel. Pamela White -----Original Message----- From: Gordon A. WATTS [mailto:gordon_watts@telus.net] Sent: July 10, 2000 1:55 AM To: White, Pamela - DACS/SACD Subject: Re: Survey re: Access to Historic Census Dear Dr. White. Thank you for sending me the text version of the Environics Research report on the Focus Group results. I have studied this report with great care and have grave concerns regarding the questions asked, the manner in which they appear to have been presented, and the summary results as presented by that report.. The report starts out by stating that "Almost no participants had heard about the topic of releasing individual-level census data for future or past censuses" and "Most participants thought it acceptable that their personal census information might be released after a time delay of about 100 years." As a group having no previous knowledge of the Census issue, or of the use to which historians and genealogists put information from Census, the tone of the report generally indicates that participants questioned the value of the information but did not necessarily object to it's availability. Participants had "scepticism concerning the validity or usefulness of the information." They felt "their own personal interest in knowing about their family origins was low and this would probably be the same for their descendants." They felt that other records would be of more use than Census for obtaining certain types of information. Questioning the value of information, having scepticism about it's validity or usefulness, having little or no interest in it, or feeling that other records would be of more use, is a far cry from being opposed to it's accessibility. Not until participants in this focus study were fed disputed information regarding mis-interpreted legislation and the non-existent "promise of confidentiality" promoted by Statistics Canada, did opinions appear to swing away from the position stated at the beginning of the survey report. I would submit that on any given question, where participants with no prior knowledge have been told that legislation prevented an action, and that certain "promises" had been made regarding that action, those participants would accept the existence of the stated legislation and promises as fact, whether or not they were. I would further submit that if asked to go against the supposed legislation, or to take action that would break the supposed "promise", most participants reaction would be negative. That is what has happened in these focus groups. In reading this report it appears obvious to me that participants in this focus group study, having no previous knowledge of Census and it's value to historians and genealogists, were fed information and questions designed to elicit a desired response. It is to be hoped that the Nation wide survey was not handled in the same manner. I am, however, not particularly optimistic regarding that possibility. I would request again that, if possible, you might supply me with the questions asked, and the order and manner in which they were asked of participants in the focus groups. I would also request the questions asked of the Nation wide survey, and the report of that survey. If the report of the Focus Group Survey was released to the media accompanied by a 'News Release', I would appreciate a copy of that as well. As it is now somewhat past the end of June, when the delayed report of the Expert Panel was to have been submitted, please advise where and when it will be made available to the public. To date there has been no evidence of it on the Statistics Canada website. If possible, can you kindly provide me with a copy of it? Thank you again for your past, and current assistance. It is much appreciated. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Port Coquitlam, BC P.S. For your personal information I have attached to this email the files containing the text of my Submission to the Expert Panel. I am sending to you by Canada Post, a CD that contains most of the considerable backup documentation resulting from my research of this matter. I would ask that you read my submission and the support documentation. If you can prove me wrong in anything that I have stated in my submission, I invite you to do so. Gordon