Greetings All. FYI Gordon ============================ Editor, Ottawa Citizen Dear Sir: I read with great interest today's article by Jim Bronskill (OC 22 September 2000 - Panel recommends census data be public). It is indeed welcome news to many thousands of Canadians seeking access to Historic Census in order to find their ancestry. Many welcomed Mr. Radwanski's appointment as interim Privacy Commissioner. It would appear, however, that he is following closely in former Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips' footsteps in referring to "promises of confidentiality" and "undertakings" that do not exist. Several months of intensive research by myself, and others, have failed to find any evidence that such "promises" or "guarantees" of never ending confidentiality of Census were ever made. Statistics Canada, and former Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips have been asked several times to produce documentary evidence of their much touted "promise" and "guarantee" of confidentiality in perpetuity. They have been asked to prove me wrong in stating "The Promise does not Exist". To date they have been unable to do so. It is unfortunate that our elected representatives and government bureaucrats continue to disseminate information for which there is no documented evidence. Industry Minister John Manley, despite many requests, continues to hold on to the Report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census. We call on him to immediately release that Report to the Public. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Canada Census Committee