| Name: | Mr. Gerald Keddy  |
| Political Party: | Conservative Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | South Shore - St. Margaret's |
| Province: | Nova Scotia |
| Telephone: | (613) 996-0877 |
| Fax: | (613) 996-0878 |
| Email: | Keddy.G@parl.gc.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Consituency Address: | 82 Aberdeen Rd Bridgewater, Nova Scotia B4V 2S6 PO Box 582 Causeway Professional Centre Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia B0W 1G0 |
12/18/2001 - email from MP Gerald Keddy to Robert Brooks.
To: "'Bob & Terry Brooks'" Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 4:45 PM Subject: RE: [CCC] Post 1901 Census - Article by Professor Bill Waiser Dear R.W. Brooks: I have written to the Minister of Industry, who is responsible for Statistics Canada, on numerous occasions to voice my objections over the government's refusal to make public the 1911 census records. This would see the records released to the National Archives and through them to the public 92 years after the taking of the census. The 1911 census would then be available to the public in the year 2003 and every ten years the next census would be opened. Genealogical research is becoming increasingly important to many Canadians as well as foreigners who come to Canada in search of their roots. Please be assured that I will continue to call upon the Minister to make these records available to all Canadians who seek important information about the past and I appreciate you taking the effort to share your concerns on this subject. Gerald Keddy, MP South Shore (Nova Scotia) -----Original Message----- From: Bob & Terry Brooks [mailto:rwbrooks@accesswave.ca] Sent: November 19, 2001 9:16 PM To: Gerald Keddy, MP Subject: Fw: [CCC] Post 1901 Census - Article by Professor Bill Waiser For your information and consideration . I am very much in favour of the release of Census information to the public after a reasonable period of time ( 90+) years to facilitate citizens searching for their "roots" All of "us" amateur genealogists would be devastated by the failure to release this info ; its absolutely vital to our reasearch. Please use your voice to make the 1911 and subsequent Census available to the public. Thanks R.W. Brooks 06/08/2001 - email from MP Gerald Keddy to Robert Brooks.
To: Robert Brooks Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 4:17 PM Subject: RE: Access to the 1911 Census June 5, 2001 Dear Robert Brooks, I would like to thank you very much for your email on April 19, 2001 regarding accessing 1911 census records. I have written the Minister of Industry, who is responsible for Statistics Canada, on numerous occasions to voice my objections over their refusal to make public the 1911 census records. I would like to see that this issue is raised again. By making records public, I mean that records would be released to the National Archives and through them to the public 92 years after the taking of the census. This would mean that the 1911 census would be available to the public in the year 2003 and every ten years later, the next census would be opened. Genealogical research is becoming increasingly important to many Canadians as well as foreigners who come to Canada in search of their roots. Please be assured that I will continue to call upon the Minister to make these records available to all Canadians who seek important information about the past. Sincerely, Gerald Keddy, MP South Shore 09/28/2000 - email from MP Gerald Keddy to Muriel M. Davidson.
Date: Thursday, 28 September, 2000 To: Muriel M. Davidson Subject: RE: YES or NO / OUI ou NON Dear Muriel, As you know I have been supportive of this initiative and will continue to offer support for release of the 1911 and subsequent censuses. Gerald Keddy, MP South Shore
The motion addresses an issue that is very important to many Canadians. Many of us understand it because we have been contacted by constituents, historians and genealogists. While I understand surveys have shown that this issue is not one of which the general public is aware, there is certainly a vocal outcry from many segments of Canadian society who understand the implications of this motion and the problem it attempts to resolve. Let me outline what exactly it is that needs to be addressed and what this motion we are debating here today contemplates. Statistics Canada conducts a census every five years, polling Canadians about such things as their name, address, marital status, income, education and activities. In the 2001 census, additional questions will be asked on languages spoken at home and at work, birthplace of parents and religion. This information is considered confidential and is not made available to other government departments, including the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. The problem is that until 1906 census information collected by Statistics Canada was kept confidential for 92 years, after which time the information was provided to the National Archives of Canada and available for public searches. This enabled family descendants, historians, genealogists and any other interested persons to access records from censuses that were collected at least 92 years previously. In 1906, however, changes were made to the Privacy Act which stated that where other acts provide specific protection to personal records, those acts must prevail. Since the Statistics Act makes reference to the confidentiality of census information supplied by the individual completing the census, legal opinion indicates that any census following 1901 cannot be released to anyone other than the specified individual in the census. Moreover, no time limitation was ever stipulated. Hon. members can see the bind in which the government finds itself. What I find more surprising, though, is the real lack of activity by the government to do anything about that bind because there are certainly a couple of avenues that the government can take. To go back to the 1911 census, which would have been made public in 2003 under the regulations in place prior to 1906, it is now considered private and confidential in perpetuity. Only with a change to legislation can this regulation be changed and access provided to historians, genealogists and descendants of people who filled out those original censuses. The motion we are addressing today proposes such a change. It asks the government to take the necessary steps to amend the regulations and allow the former practice of transferring census information to the national archives following a period of 92 years. The federal government is aware of this problem as there has been a concerted effort by genealogists to have this matter brought to the attention of the public to facilitate the changes that would allow continued access to these records. Genealogists across the country like Muriel Davidson and historical societies have been in contact with my office. There is a huge file on this issue. The need for it is obvious. If the government has a bill in waiting it should have put it out first. This is something that we should no longer continue to ignore. The government responded to efforts made by individuals, historians and genealogists by establishing in November 1999 the expert panel on access to historical census records chaired by the president of Carleton University, Dr. Richard Van Loon. This panel was mandated to examine the problem from the perspective of both historians and the general populace, to review options and to report its findings by May 2000. May has come and gone. The panel subsequently requested an extension, expecting to report by the early part of this summer. The early part of this summer has come and gone. Statistics Canada is now saying that the minister has the final report to review and it will be released at his discretion. Those of us who are interested in the findings of the expert panel will have to wait until the minister chooses to release its recommendations. Certainly all of us would benefit from knowing the results of the panel's interpretation of release of historical census information, particularly given the important discussion tonight on this matter. As part of the review of this topic the panel was asked to examine a couple of options regarding possible remedies to allow access to census records. One option would see the 2001 census and any future census transferred to the national archives after an established period of 92 years. The second option would see a similar change made retroactively to allow access to the 1911 census after 92 years. This second option entails breaking the promise of confidentiality made by the government of the day to the people who completed the censuses since 1906. I understand a number of concerns with respect to this matter, both from the perspective of privacy and confidentiality and the need for historical access to information. As the past president of the local New Ross Historical Society in Nova Scotia, I am fully aware of the usefulness of census records when exploring and tracing family ties and compiling historical snapshots of any particular moment of time. It is interesting, and I think important, to look at the history of census taking in Canada. According to a publication by Statistics Canada, Intendant Jean Talon ordered the first census in 1666 in New France. The basis of the door to door enumeration was to better prepare for the development of the colony. The 3,215 colonists in the areas of Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Cap-de-la-Madeleine and Quebec participated. Until 1739 there were 36 censuses conducted under French rule. With British occupation censuses became more intermittent until the British North America Act of 1867. That act established the need for more regular, dependable data collection, which was particularly important for regional population counts as the British North America Act set out democratic representation based on population, a system still in place today. As a Nova Scotian I also found it interesting to note that it was the 1767 census of Nova Scotia that introduced questions on religion and origin. The PC Party recognizes and supports the release of census information to the general public. Not only does this information assist historians and genealogists but also everyday Canadians can find out information about Canada's past. Sure, there are other options available for historical searches but to cut off this important avenue would be to ignore the past, and we all know that when we ignore the past we are unprepared for the future. A survey was conducted as part of the expert panel's review of access to historical censuses. BR> The survey found that Canadians agree with having access to past census records particularly to enable families to trace their backgrounds. When the questions emphasized the fact that government would have to break its promise to keep the censuses confidential from 1906 onward there was less support. However, if we think about why census records are useful and informative, it would be difficult to accept that although census taking began in Canada in 1666 there would be a complete void for a period of 92 years from 1911 to 2003. There would be no census information available. It makes sense to allow access to the historical censuses on the contingency basis that only after 92 years have passed will records be publicly available through the national archives. As I mentioned at the beginning of my speech, I have been contacted by a number of people concerned with the availability of census records. I have talked to constituents about this matter and publicly stated my support for initiatives to allow access to historical census records. I continue to advocate the position. The PC Party supports the motion before us today. Mr. Jason Kenney: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I understand that the hon. member for South Shore who just spoke referred to the absence of a certain member from the House. I believe that was out of order. The Deputy Speaker: No, I was listening very carefully. The member for South Shore indicated that a certain hon. member had not participated in the debate today, but he made no reference to the presence or absence of the member. I was quite attentive to the fact that this was the tone of the discussion.
Dear Sir:- As a new season of the House of Commons resumes, we, the voters hope all elected politicians will be in a positive frame of mind -- for all people. many voters are genealogists and family researcher -- and the majority, like myself, find genealogical research a necessity as we endeavor to complete our families. Many of us may never learn our complete ascendance -- some are children of Home children, adoptees or with other barriers. Only census records provide data. Census records have been one of our most valuable research tools. Early records were not too satisfactory, listing head of household and number in family. The 1901 census answered many questions re: religion, migration, age, family members, status in the family, occupation -- we eagerly anticipated the 1911 records -- only to learn of the present situation. Genetic research should be part of every genealogist's records. I have used census records, together with church records, to track multiple sclerosis back to 1829 -- my youngest brother has had the disease for 36 years, called "creeping paralysis" until 1920. My family members have a personal interest in 1911 records -- maternal family members were born in Maine, to Nova Scotia in 1908. My aunt, last of the family, although 97, would be delighted to know she is on a Canadian census record. The new sessions should be very interesting. We know of more than one member presenting a Private Member's Bill for release of the Post-1901 records to National Archives. We request you give the Bill your attention, not just for present day research, but for the future. There is NO way Canadian history should be locked away forever!!! Even if legislation to release was change effective today, the census of 2001 would not be available until 2094 and the present generation would not be here at that time -- a bit too long to wait!! We also call your attention to Mr. John Bryden's Bill C-264 -- we hope you will assist him to be successful as Access to Information is very important to all citizens of our country.
(a) How will YOU vote re: Post-1901 census records release? (b) How will YOU vote re: Bill C-264. Your reasons would be appreciated. We sincerely hope your positive thoughts will assist Mr. John Manley to find some way for the safe transferral of the post-1901 census records to the National Archives for our future usage as we enter a new century. Sincerely your, Muriel M. Davidson cc: The Hon. Lorna Milne, Senate of Canada
I would like to thank you very much for your recent letter regarding accessing 1911 census records. I have written the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada on a few occasions to voice my objections over their refusal to make public the 1911 census records. Most recently, on March 13th, I wrote to the Hon. John Manley asking that he simply maintain existing procedures already in place. By this, I mean that records would be released to the National Archives and through them to the public 92 years after the taking of the census. This would mean that the 1911 census would be available to the public in the year 2003 and every ten years later, the next census would be opened. However, it is my intent to put forth a private members bill on this issue this coming fall. Genealogical research is becoming increasingly important to many Canadians as well as foreigners who come to Canada in search of their roots. Please be assured that I will continue to call upon the Minister to make these records available to all Canadians who seek important information about the past. Sincerely yours, Gerald Keddy, MP South Shore
A web site has been posted at http://globalgenealogy.com/census to record MP's responses, so that those who are interested, will know the position that their elected representative has (or has not expressed) on the issue. Also included on the web site, is a correspondence log for each Member of Parliament, which will contain responses to this e-mail plus any other correspondence from the MP. The Question: "Would you, as an elected Member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public, of Post 1901 Census Records, 92 years after they were recorded. ( 1911 census information available in 2003, 1921 in 2013 etc)" If you would like to expand on your position, your entire response will be posted to your individual correspondence log. The Post 1901 Census web site is sponsored by Global Genealogy & History Bookstore. A vast number of e-mails and calls from subscribers and web site visitors, clearly demonstrates that this issue is extremely important to them. Many readers have expressed that their current MP's position on this issue will weigh heavily in their decision process during the next election. |
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