Greetings. So the infamous Bill S-13 has made its way out of the Senate towards the House of Commons. With the current agenda there and the plan to break for summer recess in 3-4 weeks, who knows what sort of reception it will get. We have been told that if any amendments are made, it will, at best, have to be referred back to the Senate and at worst get withdrawn by the government. I have been a strong supporter of the census release movement for some years and I applaud those whose efforts have managed to steer us to this point. Although it may seem to have got missed amongst all the negative debate, the bill does accomplish two things we have been seeking: - transfer of census records to the National Archives - access to pre-2003 family information after 92 years As others have pointed out in great detail it contains three items that genealogists don't like: - the imposition of "informed consent" for the 2006 and later censuses - the "undertaking" and a curb on "disclosure" until 112 years - the (possible) application of these curbs on the 1911 and 1916 censuses My friend Bob Westbury has focussed on the negative items and gone so far as to declare the bill a "genealogical catastrophe". He and others have urged that we work to DEFEAT this legislation if we cannot obtain the amendments we have asked for. I agree with all of those who advocate working hard to obtain amendments, but I also believe it would not be the end of the world if the bill passes as is. More changes can and will be made over the next 90 years. In 2003 we genealogists rely very much on census information to establish our ancestry in the 1800's and early 1900's. But when the genealogists amongst our great grandchildren look back to 2006, I am sure they will have many, many other and richer resources from directories, voter lists, vital statistics, registrations, permits and pictures. Don't we claim to be living in the information age? I expect they will have little trouble darning any holes left by those families who might choose to block the release of their census responses. So I advocate SUPPORTING the legislation with or without the amendments we think are needed. Ian Holmes, Edmonton On Tue, 27 May 2003 21:06:48 -0700 Gordon A. Watts wrote: > > Greetings All. > > I was advised this afternoon that Bill S-13 - An act to amend the > Statistics Act, completed third reading in the Senate today and has been > referred to the House of Commons. It was passed in the Senate without > amendment.......