To all:- Many have asked what I meant by THE MYTHS OF CENSUS, available for printing (minus copyright material) at the following URL:- http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html or http://www.waynecook.com/simcoe.shtml There are SIX main MYTHS OF CENSUS:- 1. There was a PROMISE made by the government of Sir Wilfred Laurier that confidentiality of Census was FOREVER. 2. Respondents to Census were TOLD about this PROMISE. 3. The Census of 1906 was the first in which Rules and Regulations relating to Census and Statistics were subject to the "force of law". The process by which secrecy of name- identifiable Census records coming under the "force of law" was a deliberate, well thought out result of the legislative process. 4. Release of name-identifiable information in the distant future was a reason for confidentiality concerns of respondents to Census. 5. A MAJOR INTENT of early Census legislation was to ensure that Schedules of Census containing name-identified information would NEVER be available for future historical or genealogical research. 6. Without confidentiality that lasts forever, respondents will be reluctant to fill out Census or will not respond truthfully. ========================================= A personal note or two:- Years ago, my grandfather listed all answers he gave on various census records, told me they would be available for me in later years. He was a proud, family type of man -- wish he would be here to add his two cents' worth today! My aunt was born in 1902, still hale and hearty -- lives in a nursing home in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. She told me she can remember the excitement her parents enjoyed filling out the first Canadian census records -- for them -- they came from Maine in 1909. Her comment to me today was "The politicians have it all wrong". An invitation to everyone:- Print the researched data that Gordon Watts found and his reasons for above six MYTHS OF CENSUS - study it -- then contact your elected Member of Parliament. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canadian Census Committee