Dear Pat:- Yes, I am sorry to say all our work on the census issue went into File 13 or the equivalent when the election was called. I spoke to Senator Lorna Milne last evening about this as I wondered if anything could be salvaged -- Lorna had had Second Reading of her Bill S-15 and it was in Committee. Lorna explained it was a Private Member's Bill, not a Government Bill. [I also queried her about the EI Bill needed for seasonal workers]. Senator Milne and several other positive Senators will be working very hard to quickly bring a census release campaign bill to previous standing. I always mention Senator Milne as she lives a few blocks from me and has been a personal friend long before she became a Senator. The Canada Census Committee members have been busy -- we can only think "SENATE" at present -- until after the election. 1. Gordon Watts has put petitions in the ".pdf" format -- click and print, no more downloading - available shortly. 2. Committee members have been added for Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. [I am still hoping for a new member from Prince Edward Island and for Manitoba -- then we will announce all]. 3. Senator Lorna Milne would be thrilled if her Christmas tree was loaded with Petitions from both Canadians and Non-Canadians -- WHITE paper, I will add the ribbons and deliver them to Ross, her husband, as a surprise from all of us. Yes, we are all disappointed this had to happen -- so near and yet so far. I have recently received messages the Canadian Alliance, Progressive- Conservative and New Democratic Parties are supporting census release. Let us all think positively and get to work!!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee member http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html [Check for THE MYTHS OF CENSUS by Gordon Watts] http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census >>>> All Sites http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm [Both Canadian and Non-Canadian petitions available] ----------------------- Pat Lawson wrote: > Hi Muriel, > > Would you please elaborate on your statement that petitions recorded > previously in Hansard do not count. Surely this doesn't mean that the > support provided prior to election call is all for naught. > > Thanks, > Pat Lawson <PandP@seanlawson.com> > > -----Original Message----- > From: Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> > To: CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com > Date: Monday, November 06, 2000 7:48 AM > Subject: [CCC] PETITIONS Wanted -- To Help Lorna Get Things Going Again! > > To all wanting the 1911 and later census records opened for all:- > > [This is not political -- Senator Lorna Milne is appointed] > > An early morning few minutes chat with Senator Lorna Milne, a dear > friend, confirmed my worst fears:- > > Her Bill S-15, after having passed Second Reading and in Committee, > was "stopped dead in its tracks" by the election call. (I am quoting > Lorna re various phrases). > > As soon as the House re-convenes, Lorna plans "to really get going and > finish the release of the census records this time". This statement means > Senator Lorna Milne will have to "start from scratch" - with our help!! > > There have been petitions signed, and I have several beside me, but any > previously recorded in Hansard will not count. > > Lorna loves surprises -- let's make the surprise a huge stack of signatures > on petitions -- on WHITE paper, and if at Christmas, I will add ribbons!! > > Go to http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm > Locate Petitions for the Senate - both for Canadians and Non-Canadians, > these will have my mailing address at the bottom. > My mail-box needs mail!!! I will be looking for many thick letters! > > Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> > Canada Census Committee Member

Hi Pat and All. I would like to modify slightly what Muriel has said and assure you that "all the support provided prior to the election call" has NOT been "all for naught". It is specifically because of all that support that we have managed to get as far as we have with our efforts to obtain public access to post-1901 Census records. It is because of all the letters written to MPs and the appropriate Government Ministers, and all the signatures on all the petitions, that the powers that be have begun to sit up and take notice of our concerns. It is because of all of those letters, email, and signatures that John Manley asked for possible solutions from Statistics Canada, and appointed the Expert Panel to make recommendations regarding access to Historic Census records. Because of this also, Senator Milne was able to work behind the scenes with Dr. Ivan Fellegi, head of Statistics Canada, then Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips, Industry Minister John Manley, and others to reach the "compromise" solution that Senator Milne referred to in her letter which was recently posted to the list. It is because of that support that this "compromise" solution was able to be placed before the Cabinet. It is unfortunate that the election call came when it did as without that I feel we would currently be studying a Bill brought down by the government. It is my personal opinion that had it not been for the pressure of Bruce Phillips and Dr. Fellegi, then Industry Minister John Manley would not have appointed the Expert Panel but would have brought down a government Bill allowing a retroactive amendment to allow public access to Census on the same basis that previous ones have been available, i.e. 92 years following collection. I feel the major reason for the Expert Panel being appointed was to show others that public access to Historic Census was supported. (CYA syndrome) Having assured you that our previous efforts have not been all for naught I must reaffirm that all outstanding Bills, for access to Census or other concerns have ceased to exist with the dissolution of the previous administration. It is my opinion that the same applies to those petitions that have been presented and recorded in Hansard as well. It does not mean that the petitions did not serve their purpose, because they did. What it does mean, however, is that with a new administration coming in (even if the Liberals are returned) we have a new ball game. It means that those having signed petitions presented to the previous administration are now free to sign new petitions to be presented to the next administration. This applies to petitions for BOTH the House of Commons and the Senate. In my next Global Gazette column, due out this weekend, I am calling for renewed signatures for BOTH petitions. The two petitions, although similarly worded, are being directed to different places. This means that the same people can sign BOTH petitions. As Muriel indicated I am putting the petitions into PDF format and they should be placed on the Post 1901 Census Project website shortly. The PDF format should eliminate the printing problems because of different printers using the Word and WordPerfect format petitions. While we have not yet seen visible results of our campaign in the form of a Government Bill, I feel certain that it will not take long after the new Government is formed before such a Bill is in evidence. It is my opinion that much of the behind the scenes work that took place over the summer period may likely be salvaged. To ensure this happens we must renew our efforts in signing petitions and contacting those seeking election or re-election. I thank you all for your past, and continuing support. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Port Coquitlam, BC Keep up to date on Post 1901 Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census and http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petitions now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Muriel M. Davidson" <davidson3542@home.com> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, 08 November, 2000 8:44 PM Subject: [CCC] PETITIONS Wanted -- To Help Lorna Get Things Going Again! Dear Pat:- Yes, I am sorry to say all our work on the census issue went into File 13 or the equivalent when the election was called. I spoke to Senator Lorna Milne last evening about this as I wondered if anything could be salvaged -- Lorna had had Second Reading of her Bill S-15 and it was in Committee. Lorna explained it was a Private Member's Bill, not a Government Bill. [I also queried her about the EI Bill needed for seasonal workers]. Senator Milne and several other positive Senators will be working very hard to quickly bring a census release campaign bill to previous standing. I always mention Senator Milne as she lives a few blocks from me and has been a personal friend long before she became a Senator. The Canada Census Committee members have been busy -- we can only think "SENATE" at present -- until after the election. 1. Gordon Watts has put petitions in the ".pdf" format -- click and print, no more downloading - available shortly. 2. Committee members have been added for Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. [I am still hoping for a new member from Prince Edward Island and for Manitoba -- then we will announce all]. 3. Senator Lorna Milne would be thrilled if her Christmas tree was loaded with Petitions from both Canadians and Non-Canadians -- WHITE paper, I will add the ribbons and deliver them to Ross, her husband, as a surprise from all of us. Yes, we are all disappointed this had to happen -- so near and yet so far. I have recently received messages the Canadian Alliance, Progressive-Conservative and New Democratic Parties are supporting census release. Let us all think positively and get to work!!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee member http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html [Check for THE MYTHS OF CENSUS by Gordon Watts] http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census >>>> All Sites http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm [Both Canadian and Non-Canadian petitions available] ----------------------- Pat Lawson wrote: Hi Muriel, Would you please elaborate on your statement that petitions recorded previously in Hansard do not count. Surely this doesn't mean that the support provided prior to election call is all for naught. Thanks, Pat Lawson <PandP@seanlawson.com> -----Original Message----- From: Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> To: CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com Date: Monday, November 06, 2000 7:48 AM Subject: [CCC] PETITIONS Wanted -- To Help Lorna Get Things Going Again! To all wanting the 1911 and later census records opened for all:- [This is not political -- Senator Lorna Milne is appointed] An early morning few minutes chat with Senator Lorna Milne, a dear friend, confirmed my worst fears:- Her Bill S-15, after having passed Second Reading and in Committee, was "stopped dead in its tracks" by the election call. (I am quoting Lorna re various phrases). As soon as the House re-convenes, Lorna plans "to really get going and finish the release of the census records this time". This statement means Senator Lorna Milne will have to "start from scratch" - with our help!! There have been petitions signed, and I have several beside me, but any previously recorded in Hansard will not count. Lorna loves surprises -- let's make the surprise a huge stack of signatures on petitions -- on WHITE paper, and if at Christmas, I will add ribbons!! Go to http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm Locate Petitions for the Senate - both for Canadians and Non-Canadians, these will have my mailing address at the bottom. My mail-box needs mail!!! I will be looking for many thick letters! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee Member