Thank you Pam. It is to be hoped that regardless of what Political Party forms the next government they will realize that no Bill that contains the conditions and restrictions of Bill S-13 will be acceptable to the genealogical and historical communities of Canada or elsewhere. The only resolution acceptable will the same unrestricted public access for records after 1906 that is currently available for 240 years of records up to that time. That access is currently permitted under the Access to Information and Privacy Acts and no legislative changes should be necessary for us to view the records. What is required is a government that has the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the Chief Statistician and tell him to obey the laws of the land. To date we have not had such a government. Thank you for your support. Happy Hunting Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Pam Budge at Rogers To: gordon_watts@telus.net Sent: Friday, June 25, 2004 9:48 AM Subject: Fw: Vote Consideration - Addressing the Census issue Hello Gordon I am a member of the Simcoe County list and I am forwarding you the reply I got from my Liberal Candidate for your information. The Conservative Candidate in the area wrote back and said that he did not have a current position on this, however if I voted for him he would work towards getting the issue resolved. Thank you for all the work you are doing on behalf of the Census and Genaeologists. Regards Pam Budge ----- Original Message ----- From: Peterson, Jim - Assistant 1 To: Pam Budge Sent: Friday, June 25, 2004 11:30 AM Subject: RE: Vote Consideration - Addressing the Census issue Dear Mrs. Budge: On behalf of Jim Peterson, thank you for your email. I am writing to inform you that Mr. Peterson does support the release and public access to the 92 year old census records. As you may know, S-13 - An Act to amend the Statistics Act passed in the Senate last November. The Government of Canada then introduced the bill in the House of Commons where it reached second reading. Unfortunately, it died on the Order paper when the House was prorogued. However, I have learned from the Office of the Minister of Industry, that if re-elected, the Liberal government plans to re-introduce legislation, hopefully by the fall, which will support the release of the census records. I hope this information is of assistance. Please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Sarah Gray Special Assistant to the Hon. Jim Peterson -----Original Message----- From: Pam Budge at Rogers Sent: June 22, 2004 5:55 PM To: Peterson, Jim - M.P. Subject: Vote Consideration - Addressing the Census issue Dear Mr. Peterson I am writing this letter to you in order to find out your position regarding public access of 92-year-old Historic Census records. I am heavily involved in Family History/Genealogy research and as you know the Census Records are a valuable tool for this. Our access to these records are in danger of being stopped and I would like to know whether or not you are supportive of Census access being retained or not before I make my decision to vote for you. You can use this email address to reply Thank you in advance, Regards (Mrs.) Pam Budge