Many thanks, David!!! You have the same thought I do -- 70 years is long enough. I have worked with census records -- they are great -- but to continue the research, one must use other documents. I have used wills, letters of administration, marriage bonds, marriage licences, obituaries -- the census records are ONLY a starting point. Muriel M. Davidson muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca Co-Chair, Canada Census committee http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~downhome/post1901census.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Rowat" <drowat@rogers.com> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 12:01 AM Subject: [CCC] Census question Dear Jeff, I'm disappointed to hear that there is still a debate about "opt-in" or "opt-out" questions on the Census. It should be obvious by how that such questions will lead to less than 100% agreement, making the value of the Census for genealogists severely flawed. Instead of giving options to Census respondents, why doesn't Statistics Canada simply add a statement to the effect that the Census data will be transferred to the Archives and released in 70 years from the date of the Census? I cannot imagine why anyone would object to having their address, age, marital status etc. released for genealogical or historical perusal after such a period. In my own case, I will be 140 years old if the 2011 Census gets released after 70 years, and I sure won't care. I have deliberately suggested 70 years rather than the 92 currently legislated (we think), because it is much more reasonable, and if there is going to be a compromise, let's have a reasonable position to start from. David Rowat