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Archiver > CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN > 2003-09 > 1062694773


From: "theoldmedic" <>
Subject: [CCC] History of Bill S-13
Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2003 12:59:33 -0400
References: <061301c37246$af6d5100$767ba8c0@gordon1> <006201c3729e$e33c87a0$51802a18@wlfdle.phub.net.cable.rogers.com>
In-Reply-To: <006201c3729e$e33c87a0$51802a18@wlfdle.phub.net.cable.rogers.com>


Mr. Watts:

Both your rather detailed explanation, and e-mails sent to me by Mrs.
Davidson have clearly pointed out that Senator Milne did in fact read
bill S-13 before she agreed to sponsor it. Therefore, she knew that this
bill was exactly the opposite of what the government was publicly stating.

Both you and Mrs. Davidson have pointed out that Senator Milne was
given "assurances" that amendments to the bill would be allowed in
committee. Neither of you have stated just who gave those "assurances".
I can only presume that it would have been either a Minister or a senior
member of the government who gave those "assurances" to her. I can't
imagine her accepting a casual remark from a new member as being
an "assurance."

It is obvious that such "assurances" were false. In fact, the government
has no intention of allowing any substantive amendment to this bill. We
have been told that party discipline will be enforced in a vote on this
bill, and that it will either go through more or less as written, or it
will not go through.

Are you not offended by the fact that Senator Milne was lied to? That
she was given false assurances, to mislead her, and the people most
interested in having access to these census reports?

Would it not be the honourable thing for Senator Milne to stand up in the
Senate and state:

"Before agreeing to sponsor bill S-13, I was provided with assurances
from (fill in the appropriate name and title) that substantive amendments
to the bill would be allowed. As time has passed, I have become aware
that in fact no substantive amendment to bill S-13 will be allowed by the
government. Therefore, I must withdraw my name as sponsor of this bill.
I can not support this bill, which would forever place unreasonable
restrictions on the access to historical records important to
Canadians. It would also destroy future census returns as historical
records."

The persons that lied to her about this should be identified, and held up
for public disdain. I am sorry, but lying to ones colleagues in the
government is NOT an acceptable part of politics in this country.

If the people accept the government lying to its own members (its bad
enough that they lie to the opposition regularly), then they deserve the
kind of government that results.

Jeff

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