----- Original Message ----- From: Ritz, Gerry - M.P. <Ritz.G@parl.gc.ca> To: Beverley Gutenberg <guteb@sk.sympatico.ca> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 8:00 AM Subject: release of census Dear Beverley, I have not, nor will I ever be a "fence-sitter"! You have to realize that we receive all sorts of requests for polls and surveys in our Ottawa office and we don't make it a practice responding to every one. I have noted the passion that this issue has stirred among many people in Saskatchewan and I assure you I have no problem supporting the release of century-old information on our ancestors. I have a feeling they wouldn't mind either, as I'm sure the reason they wanted anonymity back then was because they didn't want government authorities interfering in their lives. Different world today, I guess! I am aware my colleague Jason Kenney has a private member's motion M-160 to suggest the government pass the post-1901 census on to the National Archives and I am in favour of this. There is also an MP and a Senator's bill along the same lines and I'm willing to vote in favour of these if they accomplish the task and are not weighed down with any side issues. Sincerely, Gerry Ritz, MP Battlefords--Lloydminster NOTE:- Murray Calder, MP has Bill C-484, in House of Commons Senator Lorna Milne has a duplicate Bill S-15 in the Senate.