Greetings Jacqui and All. Thank you Jacqui for letting us know my letter was printed. I had not had the chance to check yet when I read your posting. While they printed my letter, it was a somewhat edited version, which I suppose is better than not having it printed at all. At least it managed to get some of my points across. For those who have not kept the posting of my original letter I copy it below. Happy Hunting. Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: jacquie <jacnex@home.com> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, 26 June, 2000 9:31 AM Subject: [CCC-L] National Post Hi, The National Post has printed Gordon's letter to the editor, I found it in its online edition. www.nationalpost.com under commentary; letters. Slowly but surely we are getting our message out. Jacquie Nex --------------------------------------- Editor, National Post. Re: Keep census data secret, public tells Ottawa. Dear Sir As one of those actively campaigning to obtain access to Historic Census records after 92 years as per Regulations attached to the Privacy Act of Canada, I am understandably upset with the report of Jim Bronskill. ( NP 20 June 2000, p. A11) Having received thousands of email and letters in the past few years from those who support access to Historic Census, I dispute the findings of the Environics Research Group survey. I have grave concerns that the questions in that survey were skewed so as to obtain a pre-determined response. The fact that this article refers to "census data ..... gathered under promises of confidentiality", and "breaking a promise" is proof of that skewing of questions. Any mention of a promise, or of breaking such a promise, contained in questions of the survey would show a bias towards the answers sought by Statistics Canada. In preparation for my submission to the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census records I spent several months of dedicated research seeking the "promise" upon which Statistics Canada bases their position of non-disclosure of Historic Census. My submission, titled "The Myths of Census" proves conclusively that the "promise" does not exist. Statistics Canada, and Privacy Commissioner have been asked to "show me the promise." I have asked them to prove me wrong in saying "the promise does not exist." To date they have been unable to do so. On 2 June 2000, Liberal MP Murray Calder presented to the House of Commons our petition containing more than 6000 signatures. Numerous other petitions containing untold thousands of signature have been presented in both the House of Commons, and the Senate. Thousands, perhaps millions, of Canadians anxiously await the report of the Expert Panel. We are confident that after having studied all the facts, their report will favour allowing access to these records. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Canada Census Committee