Hi, My research which is mainly Scottish/Acadian-French in Cape Breton, I am not likely to venture into areas of those belonging to other ethnic groups. Needless to say I am getting an eye-opener, lately on just what the census can be used for besides wanting to know about Grandma and Pa. Where they were born. Their birth dates. Who was living with them etc. On Feb. 11, 2003, I posted an article on Bill S-13, 'With a little touch of Cape Breton Flavour. In that article I referred to Gr. grandaunt Lucy with a few loose screws. "DISABILITIES, deaf, dumb, blind, mentally retarded, crippled. If any of the disabilities came down through the family, we probably already know the answer to that one, though not the particular family member's name. Would they really nail you if you said Great grandaunt Lucy, had a few loose screws?" Her fate may not have been 'being just the loveable aunt in her family everyone cared for', if her name had been on the 1911 census. If she was Ukrainian, German, Pole, Bulgarian etc. she would have been classified 'Enemy Alien' and required to register under the War Measures Act 1914, her presence may not have been so welcome in Canada. http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/primeministers/h4-4043-e.html "The results of the Committee's labours are embodied in a "War Book", which sets forth in great detail necessary measures to be taken upon the outbreak of war and carefully considered arrangements for carrying out these measures without delay or confusion. The work of the Committee is largely carried on by sub-committees, which are often constituted in part by persons who are not members of the general committee and who are selected for their special knowledge of a particular subject." Being a fairly recent immigrant sometime during the preceding years, (or even a first generation Canadian) she as well as many others would have come under far more scrutiny. She may even have been deported. http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/canada1891/ch5.html "The Immigration Act of 1906 halted the earlier policy of free entry. The new act provided for the deportation of immigrants who might become public charges, or infirm. By 1914, the prohibited classes widened to include the: feeble-minded, insane, idiots, imbeciles, persons afflicted with tuberculosis or any other loathsome disease (unless the disease was treatable on board ship or at dockside medical facilities). It also banned the mute, blind, or otherwise physically defective, unless self-supporting. Persons convicted of "... any crime involving moral turpitude, prostitutes, pimps, professional vagrants or beggars could not enter." Immigrants to whom charitable monies for the purpose of enabling them to qualify for Canada's immigration requirements were likely unfit as were alcoholics, psychopaths, and public charges. In 1907 the government began to require between $25 and $50 in landing money from everyone except agricultural workers, domestic servants, and family members seeking reunification with family already in Canada. In 1908, controls along the American border reduced the incoming flow of Americans. (from: The Immigration Act and Regulations (Ottawa: King's Printer 1919) effective July 14, 1914)" What if she was just eccentric, quite capable of caring for herself in comfortable circumstances but not particularly liked in the community. Her ethnic background could bring her under suspicion. http://www.educ.sfu.ca/cels/past_art28.html "Other less concrete reasons given for internment included "acting in a very suspicious manner" and being "undesirable". By the middle of 1915, 4000 of the internees had been imprisoned for being "indigent" (poor and unemployed). A total of 8,579 Canadians were interned between 1914 and 1920. Over 5,000 of them were of Ukrainian descent. Germans, Poles, Italians, Bulgarians, Croatians, Turks, Serbians, Hungarians, Russians, Jews, and Romanians were also imprisoned. Of the 8,579 internees, only 2,321 could be classed as "prisoners of war" (i.e. "captured in arms or belonging to enemy reserves"); the rest were civilians. Upon each individual's arrest, whatever money and property they had was taken by the government. In the internment camps they were denied access to newspapers and their correspondence was censored. They were sometimes mistreated by the guards. One hundred and seven internees died, including several shot while trying to escape. They were forced to work on maintaining the camps, road-building, railway construction, and mining. As the need for soldiers overseas led to a shortage of workers in Canada, many of these internees were released on parole to work for private companies." Up till now I basically concentrated on clause 8 of Bill S-13, because I saw immediately the potential harm this could cause not only for genealogical/historical research, but for all Canadians. Though I didn't like the other clauses, I knew that I could live with them, even if they were shoved down my throat. It has bothered me considerably the way the Bill S-13 was worded, and thought long and hard that there had to be a reason for it. I really hadn't grasped any other reason than Dr. Fellegi's outright refusal about releasing the censuses and being told about legislation that prohibits it (which no one apparently has produced for anyone to examine). It would seem that I was missing something in the equation. But what? How about WWI itself. When I search for records from WWI, I am searching for soldiers of that war that were family members and fought for Canada. My family history goes back another 100 plus years in Canada and my husbands 100 more than that. So my search of the 1911 and 1916 (when they are released) would be basically to find out where family members were at. I definitely would not be looking for someone in a concentration camp. If I was Ukrainian, German, Pole, Italian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Jewish etc. and the family came here circa 1900-1906 and settled in one of the Prairie Provinces, the census records would provide much more information. The year of immigration to Canada, where they were living in 1906 and than 1911. Once war broke out in 1914, and the War Measures Act invoked the 1916 census search, (Prairie Provinces census only) would become vitally important. It would either turn up the family in a concentration camp in the West or the family not listed. This could mean that they were possibly moved to concentration camps in the east. As the 1916 census was only of the Prairie Provinces, than the 1921 census would than become important to find out where missing family members were if they had remained in the east after their release in 1920. Maybe a family member had been deported from Canada. The descendants of the 8,579 Interned Canadians should not to wait 20 years before they would be allowed to publish their family story including what they found on the census records. As it is it will take some of them till 2013 (release of 1921 census) before they can fill in all the details especially if there aren't survivors in the family of this generation. The Immigrants paid a high price for Freedom. Are their descendants going to pay it again with 'Censorship' on what they can or can not make public for 20 yrs. Regards Juanita MacDonald

Juanita:- Some of these reasons might be WHY the census bill was written. Could THEY be protecting our feelings? Would it be too difficult for us to accept? No, I think not!! I know those with disabilities were barred -- but in our respective families, these often provide clues to present-day illesses for which families do not have an answer. Keep researching! These are things we should know, but are not taught in our schools - ver understandable! Muriel M. Davidson [email protected] =============== ----- Original Message ----- Hi, My research which is mainly Scottish/Acadian-French in Cape Breton, I am not likely to venture into areas of those belonging to other ethnic groups. Needless to say I am getting an eye-opener, lately on just what the census can be used for besides wanting to know about Grandma and Pa. Where they were born. Their birth dates. Who was living with them etc. On Feb. 11, 2003, I posted an article on Bill S-13, 'With a little touch of Cape Breton Flavour. In that article I referred to Gr. grandaunt Lucy with a few loose screws. "DISABILITIES, deaf, dumb, blind, mentally retarded, crippled. If any of the disabilities came down through the family, we probably already know the answer to that one, though not the particular family member's name. Would they really nail you if you said Great grandaunt Lucy, had a few loose screws?" Her fate may not have been 'being just the loveable aunt in her family everyone cared for', if her name had been on the 1911 census. If she was Ukrainian, German, Pole, Bulgarian etc. she would have been classified 'Enemy Alien' and required to register under the War Measures Act 1914, her presence may not have been so welcome in Canada. http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/primeministers/h4-4043-e.html "The results of the Committee's labours are embodied in a "War Book", which sets forth in great detail necessary measures to be taken upon the outbreak of war and carefully considered arrangements for carrying out these measures without delay or confusion. The work of the Committee is largely carried on by sub-committees, which are often constituted in part by persons who are not members of the general committee and who are selected for their special knowledge of a particular subject." Being a fairly recent immigrant sometime during the preceding years, (or even a first generation Canadian) she as well as many others would have come under far more scrutiny. She may even have been deported. http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/canada1891/ch5.html "The Immigration Act of 1906 halted the earlier policy of free entry. The new act provided for the deportation of immigrants who might become public charges, or infirm. By 1914, the prohibited classes widened to include the: feeble-minded, insane, idiots, imbeciles, persons afflicted with tuberculosis or any other loathsome disease (unless the disease was treatable on board ship or at dockside medical facilities). It also banned the mute, blind, or otherwise physically defective, unless self-supporting. Persons convicted of "... any crime involving moral turpitude, prostitutes, pimps, professional vagrants or beggars could not enter." Immigrants to whom charitable monies for the purpose of enabling them to qualify for Canada's immigration requirements were likely unfit as were alcoholics, psychopaths, and public charges. In 1907 the government began to require between $25 and $50 in landing money from everyone except agricultural workers, domestic servants, and family members seeking reunification with family already in Canada. In 1908, controls along the American border reduced the incoming flow of Americans. (from: The Immigration Act and Regulations (Ottawa: King's Printer 1919) effective July 14, 1914)" What if she was just eccentric, quite capable of caring for herself in comfortable circumstances but not particularly liked in the community. Her ethnic background could bring her under suspicion. http://www.educ.sfu.ca/cels/past_art28.html "Other less concrete reasons given for internment included "acting in a very suspicious manner" and being "undesirable". By the middle of 1915, 4000 of the internees had been imprisoned for being "indigent" (poor and unemployed). A total of 8,579 Canadians were interned between 1914 and 1920. Over 5,000 of them were of Ukrainian descent. Germans, Poles, Italians, Bulgarians, Croatians, Turks, Serbians, Hungarians, Russians, Jews, and Romanians were also imprisoned. Of the 8,579 internees, only 2,321 could be classed as "prisoners of war" (i.e. "captured in arms or belonging to enemy reserves"); the rest were civilians. Upon each individual's arrest, whatever money and property they had was taken by the government. In the internment camps they were denied access to newspapers and their correspondence was censored. They were sometimes mistreated by the guards. One hundred and seven internees died, including several shot while trying to escape. They were forced to work on maintaining the camps, road-building, railway construction, and mining. As the need for soldiers overseas led to a shortage of workers in Canada, many of these internees were released on parole to work for private companies." Up till now I basically concentrated on clause 8 of Bill S-13, because I saw immediately the potential harm this could cause not only for genealogical/historical research, but for all Canadians. Though I didn't like the other clauses, I knew that I could live with them, even if they were shoved down my throat. It has bothered me considerably the way the Bill S-13 was worded, and thought long and hard that there had to be a reason for it. I really hadn't grasped any other reason than Dr. Fellegi's outright refusal about releasing the censuses and being told about legislation that prohibits it (which no one apparently has produced for anyone to examine). It would seem that I was missing something in the equation. But what? How about WWI itself. When I search for records from WWI, I am searching for soldiers of that war that were family members and fought for Canada. My family history goes back another 100 plus years in Canada and my husbands 100 more than that. So my search of the 1911 and 1916 (when they are released) would be basically to find out where family members were at. I definitely would not be looking for someone in a concentration camp. If I was Ukrainian, German, Pole, Italian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Jewish etc. and the family came here circa 1900-1906 and settled in one of the Prairie Provinces, the census records would provide much more information. The year of immigration to Canada, where they were living in 1906 and than 1911. Once war broke out in 1914, and the War Measures Act invoked the 1916 census search, (Prairie Provinces census only) would become vitally important. It would either turn up the family in a concentration camp in the West or the family not listed. This could mean that they were possibly moved to concentration camps in the east. As the 1916 census was only of the Prairie Provinces, than the 1921 census would than become important to find out where missing family members were if they had remained in the east after their release in 1920. Maybe a family member had been deported from Canada. The descendants of the 8,579 Interned Canadians should not to wait 20 years before they would be allowed to publish their family story including what they found on the census records. As it is it will take some of them till 2013 (release of 1921 census) before they can fill in all the details especially if there aren't survivors in the family of this generation. The Immigrants paid a high price for Freedom. Are their descendants going to pay it again with 'Censorship' on what they can or can not make public for 20 yrs. Regards Juanita MacDonald --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.486 / Virus Database: 284 - Release Date: 5/29/03