Greetings All. This afternoon I sent all Members of Parliament for whom we have email addresses the following message. I attached to this message the files for my printed submission to the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census records. In doing this it is my hope that I can inform and educate, or at least give them something to think about. Happy Hunting. Gordon ---------------------------------------------- To all Members of Parliament I give greetings. By way of introduction I will advise that I am one of the leaders of a campaign on the Internet seeking Public access to Post 1901 Census records after a reasonable period of time, (currently 92 years following collection,) as provided for by Regulations pertaining to the Privacy Act of Canada. I am sure that over the past two years, all Members of Parliament have been contacted by their constituents regarding this matter. All 301 MPs have been sent e-mail and letters asking (1) their willingness to prepare and present a Bill to obtain access to Post 1901 Census records after a reasonable period, and (2) how they would vote on a Bill to allow access to Post 1901 Census. I have seen many responses from MPs and these have been varied. Several voiced immediate support for access to Historic Census records while a few stated opposition to access. Others, those who bothered to respond to questions regarding access to Historic Census, sent answers giving no clue as to their position on this matter. Many simply acknowledged receipt of the letter, stating "your concerns have been noted" and "have been passed to Industry Minister John Manley" or Statistics Canada. By far the majority of MPs did not see fit to respond in any way to these questions. Those MPs who are "fence-sitters" or who stated opposition to access to Census records had one thing in common -- they all relied heavily on statements released by Statistics Canada regarding a "promise" of "never ending confidentiality" that was supposedly given by the 1905 government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Most could not be bothered to respond in their own wording but quoted in part, or in entirety, from those statements released by Statistics Canada. One in particular titled "Access to 1911 and other Post-1901 Census Records" was widely quoted. Obviously those MPs responding in this manner accepted at face value what Statistics Canada and Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips have said regarding this "promise". They have made no attempt to seek out the truth of the matter. I have asked both Statistics Canada and Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips to "show me the promise" upon which their position of non-disclosure is entirely based. To date they have been unable to do -- simply referring me to the Statutes of 1905/1906, and Instructions to Census Officers and Enumerators of Census for that time period. I can state categorically that at no place in these Statutes and Instructions, nor in any Statues or Instructions since then, is there any mention of a "promise" that confidentiality of information given by respondents to Census will last "forever". The "promise" does not exist. On 12 November 1999 an Expert Panel to study Access to Historic Census Records was appointed with a mandate to bring down a report containing recommendations by 31 May 2000. In an effort to inform and educate, or at least to cause MPs to think about the issue, I have attached to this message the files containing my printed submission to the Expert Panel. Titled "The Myths of Census", this submission is the result of considerable research of the pertinent sources of information relating to the matter at hand. These sources, among others, include: All Statutes relating to Census and Statistics from 1870 to the present . Most Instructions to Officers and Enumerators of Census from 1871 to 1941. Extracted Debates of the House of Commons and the Senate for 1879, 1905 and 1918 Many Proclamations and Orders in Council published in The Canada Gazette Extract from Archivaria 45 (Fall 1998) -- "Counting the Archives In: The appraisal of the 1991 Census of Canada" by Jean-Stephen Piche and Sheila Powell Extract from Canadian Public Administration (Vol. 20, No. 3, pp 481-498) -- "Access to historic census data in Canada: a comparative analysis." by David H. Flaherty Report of the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs titled "Saving Our Census and preserving our history (May 1998)" I urge each MP to read my submission to the Expert Panel, the submission of the Canadian Historical Association which is posted on the web pages of Statistics Canada, and any other submissions to which you might have access. Read these submissions, and think about the issues involved. With the report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census due by the end of May it is likely that there will soon be a Bill relating to Access of Historic Census records to vote on. In this regard I would again ask each of you the following question: Would you, as a Member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, having been placed in that position by the voting citizens of your Constituency, vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public of Post 1901 Census Reports after 92 years, starting with the 1906 Census? I would welcome any comments or questions you might have regarding my submission to the Expert Panel. To the Francophone Members of Parliament I extend my apologies for not sending this message and the attached files in the French language. I regret that I am not bilingual and neither read, nor write, French. Thank you. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Port Coquitlam, BC ICQ # 9183352 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