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From: "Gordon A. Watts" <>
Subject: Re: [CCC] census bill
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 11:48:29 -0700
References: <004f01c30112$300e79c0$12209a8e@mcgregor> <5.2.1.1.0.20030413151640.00baad80@mail.abccom.bc.ca>


Hi Bonnie.

Lois and I might have a small discussion, or difference of opinion on
what should be done regarding Bill S-13. Overall, however, we both want
the same thing. Lois makes some good points and I do not dispute the
ones she has made particularly relating to Clause 8 ("informed consent")
and its effect.

I will not campaign to defeat Bill S-13, but I will do everything I can
to encourage amendments be made to it. That will include writing to
Senators and MPs to seek amendments to be proposed from the floor of the
Senate and/or the House of Commons.

Parliament is currently on a two week recess until 28 April. This
should give everyone time to write letters to the Senators and MPs
asking that they seek amendments that will allow the 1911 and 1916
records at least to be released without restrictions and conditions.
The most important amendment to seek is the removal of Clause 8
entirely, or at least to ensure that it is an OPT-OUT provision rather
than OPT-IN.

The other conditions are ridiculous, and there has been no demonstrated
need for them, however, they are something that we can live with if we
have to.

I encourage everyone to bombard our elected and appointed with letters
and email (or both) seeking their support to propose and vote for
amendments as above. As they are currently on a recess, go to their
constituency offices and speak to them directly. Let them know in no
uncertain terms what the public wants -- unrestricted access with no
strings and conditions. In particular, no "informed consent" clause
that might effectively destroy the potential usefulness of Censuses
taken form 2006 and on.

Happy Hunting.

Gordon


----- Original Message -----
From: "bonnie" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2003 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: [CCC] census bill


Lois
Are you saying that Bill S-13 should be voted against. I do not
understand. Please be clear as to what you want us to do.
I will cheerfully go to my MP and state what I want. And he will listen
or
hear from me.
Bonnie
At 02:13 PM 4/13/2003 -0800, you wrote:
>Dear Patty and other cheerful listers
>
>Bill S-13 is a huge step backwards for our campaign for the release of
the
>historic census. With no legislation, the 1911 and 1916 census have to
be
>released unconditionally and on time. This has been established by the
>precedent of the unconditional release of the 1906 census. It seems to
>have been a clever move on the part of our opponents. Beatty et al v
The
>Chief Statistician et al was scheduled to be heard by the Federal
Court
>on May 6. Our success was all but certain. Releasing the 1906 census
>effectively ended that court case. Promising the conditional release
of
>the 1911 census this summer has lulled so many genealogists into
>complacency. Bill S-13, if passed into legislation, will prevent any
>future court cases on this issue. It will also seriously degrade all
>future census as historical records of the population as a whole. Why
do
>you think Senator Milne is so upset?
>
>Bill S-13 can still be amended or killed in the House of Commons.
Friendly
>MPs need to be briefed. Neutral or unfriendly MPs need to be
>persuaded. You should start with your own MP. Perhaps he/she could
use a
>nice package of the submissions to the Senate which you find most lucid
or
>your persoanlly annotated copy of Bill S-13.
>
>Lois Sparling
>
>pmcgr wrote:
>
>>Hi
>>
>>I am relatively new to this list, but certainly not to the issue. I
have
>>written my MP many timeas and even was one of the presenters at the
>>Ottawa Town Hall back in Dec 2001. I have been watching the posts
with
>>interest since I joined the list about a month ago.
>>
>>I agree with many who have said we need to keep this in perspective.
>>Without the work of Muriel Davidson, Gordon Watts, Senator Milne, Jeff
>>Paul and many others there would be no 1906 census on line and no
chance
>>of even seeing the 1911 in many of our lifetimes. So yes, we didn't
get
>>all we wanted (do we ever), but we did make huge strides. And those
hard
>>workers need to be congratulated for their efforts. Shooting the
>>messenger has never been very helpful.
>>
>>I do have a question though. Forgive me if it is naiive - this bill
which
>>the Senate has passed now has to go to the House, right? Will it be
>>debated there? Can ammendements be added then, or will they just pass
>>what the Senate has approved?
>>
>>In other words, should we be targetting specific MPs who are shown as
>>fence sitters, contacting supporters to see if they will change it
from
>>an opt in to an opt out check box or what??
>>
>>If the battle is over, but the war is not, then let's keep up the
pressure.
>>Muriel, Lorna, Gordon - any suggestions?
>>
>>Patty McGregor
>>Ottawa
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
>
>==== CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN Mailing List ====
>Read Gordon A. Watts' column on Post 1901 Census issues at
> http://globalgazette.net
>



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