Greetings All. In a telelphone conversation with Dan O'Donnel, Privacy Commissioner Investigator, I today learned that there will be a further delay in receiving a decision of the Information Commissioner regarding our complaints against Statistic Canada. I was advised that some further procedural issues had arisen, and that it was necessary to have meetings with up to three more individuals. One of those meetings is scheduled for Monday 5 April, another for the following week, and depending on the outcome of that meeting, possibly a meeting with third individual during the week of April 19. Following that, the Information Commissioner reviews the evidence and makes his assessment, after which he contacts the Chief Statistician to advise him of that assessment and make recommendations regarding it. It is my understanding that the Chief Statistician has up to two weeks to respond to the Information Commissioner. Mr. O'Donnel's best estimate of when we could expect complainants to be given letters of response was about 4 June 2004 -- four days before our legal action is heard by a Federal Court Judge. He indicated he would contact me if it was likely this would happen sooner. Mr. O'Donnell is restricted in what information he can provide prior to a decision by the Information Commissioner. He was unable to tell me anything more about what procedural issues had arisen, or who still needed to be interviewed. In response to my questions, he indicated that the situation was not a carbon copy of that for the release of the 1906 Census records. He indicated that there was different legislation to be considered. I responded that the 1911 and 1906 Censuses were conducted under the same legislation. He agreed with that but stated that in addition, the proposed legislation of Bill S-13 had to be considered. He indicated that this was the case even though Bill S-13 was dead. In making a decision regarding our complaints, I believe no consideration should be given to Bill S-13. Any decision should be based on existing legislation and regulations -- not on proposed legislation that has died on the order paper. I advised Mr. O'Donnell that consideration of Bill S-13 in this matter would be akin to a traffic cop giving me a ticket for an infraction contained in proposed future legislation for which there was no guarantee that it would ever be passed. I will be writing the Information Commissioner to advise him of my feelings regarding consideration of Bill S-13 when making his decision on our complaints against the Chief Statistician. Happy Hunrting. Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted.