Hi Brandy. I assume the program to which you refer was the one on CBC entitled "Selling the Census". This was a repeat of a program viewed some time earlier. This was a short but interesting segment that demonstrated that while StatCan does not actually release name-identifiable information, with mating what they do release to other substantial databases in the commercial world, it is possible to virtually identify those giving the information. Following both viewings of the program I sent an email to the host of the show suggesting that they consider doing a segment on the other side of the question -- that of allowing access to Historic Census. Unfortunately she did not allow me the courtesy of either responding to, or acknowledging either of my email. The recent experience with the Human Resources interconnection of many government databases illustrated quite well the concerns that early respondents to census had -- that other government departments would have access to their current census information -- not that descendants would have access to it in the future. While the report of the Expert Panel was supposed to be presented to Minister John Manley by the end of June there has been no evidence of it on the StatCan website. I will be writing to Dr. Pamela White, secretariat of the Panel, later today to find out what is happening with it. Rest assured that we will continue the fight until we have achieved our goal -- the continued access to census records 92 years after collection. 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: Dave/Brandy Limbeek/LaFortune <dave.brandy@sympatico.ca> To: <gordon_watts@telus.net> Sent: Sunday, 09 July, 2000 8:22 AM Subject: census records When is the panel's decision expected to be released? I am anxiously awaiting news of the 1911 census records. I am very disappointed with Stats Canada, I recently saw a program about how Stats Canada has been compiling data and selling it to companies! Sure, they don't release names but they do release other info that helps companies with their marketing. I guess that when Stats Canada is being paid for the information they don't mind breaking confidentiality laws! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this tidbit of information, and please keep fighting for all the genealogists! Thank you, Brandy LaFortune