From Rootsweb Review 1a. EDITOR'S DESK: The next National Census of Canada is scheduled to take place Tuesday, 16 May 2006. For the first time in the 340 years censuses have been conducted in the territory that was destined to become Canada, respondents will be asked to provide consent for the release of information they provide -- 92 years after collection. Until now, no such consent was required. Only if you mark "YES" to this question will your personal information be made public later. If you mark "NO" or leave the answer blank, your personal information will never be made publicly available. According to Gordon A. Watts, of British Columbia, and the co-chair of the Canada Census Committee, "Inclusion of this 'informed consent' provision was the price forced upon genealogists and historians seeking to regain public access to Historic Census records to which existing legislation already stated we were entitled. "We had been advised that unless this provision was accepted the government would not present the Bill (S-18) to end our seven-year campaign to regain public access to Historic Census records in accordance with provisions of the Access to Information and Privacy Acts. On Census Day -- 16 May -- make sure you answer YES to allow your information to be made available to your descendants in 2098." See: "Gordon Watts Reports" at http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/authors/authgw.htm