----- Original Message ----- From: White, Pamela - DACS/SACD <pamela.white@statcan.ca> To: <gordon_watts@telus.net> Sent: Wednesday, 03 May, 2000 6:32 AM Subject: Survey re: Access to Historic Census Mr. Watts: Donna Dasko forwarded to the Expert Panel your email regarding the public opinion research that was conducted by Environics on the topic of access to historical census records. The public opinion research was commissioned by Statistics Canada for the Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records. The objective of the research was to find out how Canadians felt about the release of future and past personal census records. It also attempted to determine how Canadians felt about a retroactive amendment to permit the release of past census information. The company Environics was hired to undertake this public opinion research. The contract was made thorough the Client Advisory and Public Opinion Research Directorate of Public Works and Government Services Canada. This Directorate maintains a Standing Offer list for the Government of Canada of the companies able to undertake public opinion research. Environics was selected as it has an Omnibus Public Opinion Survey that is conducted every four months. In this survey, a number of public opinion type questions are asked of 2,000 randomly selected Canadians. The sample covers all of Canada and the results are within 2.2% 19 times out of 20. Environics has conducted focus group and survey work related to this project. Six focus groups were held. A pilot session of 2 groups was held in Ottawa in December, 1999. In January, 2000 four other groups were conducted: 2 groups in English were held in Toronto and 2 in French were held in Montréal. For these focus groups, a cross-section of Canadians was selected though participants were grouped by education level. In each location, one group contained university or college educated participants and the other contained persons with less than a university or college degree or diploma. The recruiting of participants for the focus groups was done by Environics. The purpose of the Focus Groups was to test the wording of the questions to be used in the public opinion survey and to permit Canadians not directly involved in the debate to discuss their views regarding the release of future census information, a retroactive amendment to permit the release of historical census information and the need for historical census information. The Environics Omnibus Survey was conducted in March and April, 2000. The survey included 9 questions on the topic of access to historical census records. Upon review of the results of this survey, it was decided that additional information needed to be obtained. A further 7 questions are asked on a Special Omnibus Survey that Environics is holding in late April/May, 2000. This May 2000 Special Omnibus Survey had been planned by Environics to meet the needs of another client. Given the Panel's tight time requirements, it was decided to add these additional questions to this survey rather than wait for the next regular Omnibus Survey planned to occur in June/July, 2000. In both instances, the amount of time taken to ask the questions on the access to historical census records was about 5-8 minutes. The entire survey may have taken about 45 minutes to complete. The results of the public opinion research (focus groups, surveys: waves 1 and 2) will be presented by Environics in a report that will made available to the public. This report will present the questions asked and an analysis of the results. In accordance with Treasury Board Guidelines, public opinion research reports are to be made available in both official languages and deposited with the National Library and the Library of Parliament. I have been assured by the staff at the Client Advisory and Public Opinion Research Directorate of Public Works and Government Services that they will make the report available to the National Library and Library of Parliament as soon as they receive it. The Public Opinion Report will be submitted by Environics once the results of the second survey have been analysed. It is expected that this report will be available to the public in early June, 2000. I trust that I have answered your questions on this topic. Yours sincerely, Pamela White Secretariat, Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records ---Original Message----- From: Donna Dasko [mailto:donna_dasko@environics.ca] Sent: May 2, 2000 10:08 AM To: 'gordon_watts@telus.net' Cc: 'Richard_VanLoon'; 'White, Pamela - DACS/SACD' Subject: FW: Survey re: Access to Historic Census Dear Mr. Watts, For information about public opinion research on the topic of access to historical records, I would ask you to contact Dr. Richard Van Loon, President of Carleton University, who is Chair of the expert panel that is investigating this topic, or Pamela White, at Statistics Canada. They are both copied on this message. Thank you kindly. Donna Dasko, Ph.D. Senoir Vice-President Environics Research Group Ltd. > -----Original Message----- > From: Gordon A. WATTS [SMTP:gordon_watts@telus.net] > <mailto:[SMTP:gordon_watts@telus.net]> > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2000 1:02 PM > To: research@environics.ca > Subject: Survey re: Access to Historic Census > > Environics Research > > Dear Sir or Ms. > > I have just been advised that your company recently conducted a survey > relating to public access to Historic Census in Canada. The name I was > given to contact was Joe Borge at 416-920-3506. As I am a pensioner on a > fixed income I have chosen to contact you via email and save the long > distance charges. > > I am one of the leaders of a campaign on the Internet, the purpose of > which is to obtain access to the Public, after a reasonable period of > time, of Post 1901 Census records. As such I am very interested in > knowing about any surveys regarding Census. > > It is my understanding that this survey took 45 minutes to one hour to > complete over the telephone. > > If possible could you please advise me regarding the following: > > By whom was the survey commissioned? I understand that you may not be > able to tell me this because of privacy concerns and this is not my > primary interest. > > What geographic area was covered by the survey? Was it limited to a > specific area, or was it conducted throughout all of Canada? What were > the numbers of respondents to the survey?> > > Was the survey conducted specifically on this subject, or was Census just > a small part of a larger survey? > > What were the questions asked, and how were they put to the survey > respondents? Were they worded in such a way to elicit a predetermined > response? I would very much like to see the questions asked. > > What were the conclusions reached by your survey? To what degree of > accuracy are your surveys normally credited? > > I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience. Thank you. > > Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net <mailto:gordon_watts@telus.net> > 1455 Delia Drive > Port Coquitlam, BC > V3C 2V9 > Tel. (604) 942-6889 > Fax. (604) 942-6843 > > 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> >