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From: "Muriel M. Davidson" <>
Subject: [Can-Sask] Census allows a peek at our future.
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 00:13:38 -0400


Greetings All.

FYI. [Reply to Globe & Mail article July 17, 2002]

Gordon A. Watts


Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: Census allows a peek at our future.

Editor,
Globe and Mail.

Margaret Wente's article, "Census allows a peek at our future" (G&M 17
July 2002) asks the question "How many grandchildren are you going to
have?"

While today's Census may allow a non-identifying peek at our statistical
future, if Ivan P. Fellegi, Chief Statistician of Canada, has his way,
millions of Canadians and others from around the world will never again
be allowed to use Canada's Historic Census records to seek information
about their ancestors. Nor will our grandchildren, and their children
and grandchildren be able to use these invaluable records to find out
about us.

235 years of Census records, from the first census of New France, up to
and including those for the 1901 National Census of Canada, currently
reside in the National Archives of Canada and are available for research
by any person or body. The Privacy Act and Regulations attached thereto
specifically permit the original schedules of Census to be made
available 92 years after collection.

Dr. Fellegi has refused to allow Post-1901 records to be transferred to
the control of the National Archivist for eventual release to the
public. In this refusal he is in contravention of the National Archives
of Canada Act, the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act and the
Statistics Act. After five years and more than 50,000 signatures sent
to the government, MPs and Senators, we have finally applied to the
Federal Courts to seek a Writ of Mandamus that would force Statistics
Canada to release the 1906 Census of the Western Provinces. They should
have been available in 1998.

We seek to regain the same public access to Census records after 1901
that we have had for those records up to then. We have gone through two
governments, and three Ministers of Industry (responsible for Statistics
Canada). A Report of an Expert Panel appointed in 1999 and a series of
Town Hall meetings held this past December and January, all support
allowing public access to Census records 92 years after collection.

How much longer must we wait? And how many more surveys must be endured
before Statistics Canada will finally allow the access to Historic
Census records that we seek, and that at least three applicable statutes
state that we are entitled to?

For more information you are invited to view the Post-1901 Census
Project website at:

http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census

or contact the writer at

Thank you.

Gordon A. Watts
Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee
1455 Delia Drive
Port Coquitlam, BC
V3C 2V9

Tel (604) 942-6889
Fax (604) 942-6843

http://globalgenealogy.com/Census
en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm




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