Val Meridith - MP Dear Ms. Meridith On CPAC this afternoon I watched with interest your speech regarding Jason Kenney's Motion M160. While gratified to note your support of this motion, and therefore your support for allowing access to all Post 1901 Census records, I was somewhat disappointed with your several references to allowing this access 100 years following collection. I am sure that you are aware that Regulations attached to the Privacy Act currently allow access to personal information from census to be transferred to the National Archives, and subsequently allowed access by the public, 92 years after collection. Assuming the age of majority at the time of collection of the 1911 Census to be 21 years, as it was until relatively recently, an adult enumerated at that time would be a minimum of 113 years old 92 years after collection. If the time after collection of a census were increased to 100 years, that age would be 121. While admittedly the longevity of man has been increasing, I think it unlikely there are many citizens living at the age of 113, let alone 121. For a child being enumerated at that time, basically the only information regarding them recorded would be that they existed, and their relationship to the head of family. While many of those seeking access to historic census would like to see a period shorter than 92 years following collection before release, our campaign would be happy to see this remain as it is. Certainly most of us would be unhappy to see that period increase. If memory serves correctly, you made reference to England TRYING to release the 1901 census after 100 years. Please be advised that for as long as I can remember (at the age of 58) England has released their census after 100 years. What is different at this time is that the intent of the Public Record Office is for the full census of 1901 to be placed online and accessible via the Internet. Canada could learn from England in this matter. Thank you for your support of M-160 and subsequently for allowing access to all Historic Census. Sincerely 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