Greetings Listers. The long awaited announcement of Senator Lorna Milne's Private Senator's Bill has arrived. The Bill was presented in the Senate shortly before noon Thursday 16 December 1999. The press release follows. - ------------------------------------------------------------- Senator Lorna Milne announces a Private Senators' Bill to allow for the release of post-1901 census records to the public. OTTAWA December 16, 1999 - Liberal Senator Lorna Milne (Peel County, Ontario) today introduced a Private Senators' Bill to the Senate entitled, An Act to amend the Statistics Act and the National Archives of Canada Act (census records). The Bill would amend the 1906 regulations and later legislation which have been interpreted to mean that the records must be confidential forever. The information in census returns up to and including the 1901 census has been released for public use after 92 years. If the 1911 census were bound by Privacy Act regulations, which stipulate the 92 years rule it would be released in 2003. "The information contained in the post 1901 census returns is vital not only to genealogists and historians, but as a teaching aid as well. It provides a snapshot to 20th century Canada that should not be withheld from Canadians," said Senator Milne. "On the eve of a new millennium, the records of the 20th Century should not be forever concealed from the public's eyes." Senator Milne admits to having a formidable following in the genealogical community. Her supporters introduced Senator Milne to the problem and have conducted the letter writing campaign that has descended on Ottawa. Last November 1998, Senator Milne introduced an inquiry calling the Senate's attention to the situation. There was a vigorous debate on the issue which has been reflected in the proposed legislation. Senator Milne is confident that the bill will receive the approval of the Senate and hopes to have it referred to committee early in the new year. Second reading of the bill will be in February 2000. - 30 - For more information contact: Rosemary MacLellan (613) 947-7695 - ------------------------------------------------------------------- This message has been posted to Alberta-L, British Columbia, Census-Chat-L, Colchester, Lunen-Links-L, Nova-Scotia-L, Ontario-L, PictouRoots, Roots-L, Watts-L, Wiltshire-EMI-L, and the Canada-Census-Campaign mailing lists. Feel free to forward this message to other mail lists, newsletters, and genealogical or historical societies to which you belong. 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/index.htm and http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petiton now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm