The following News Release was made by Murray Calder, Member of Parliament, Friday January 24, 2003

January 24, 2003
For immediate release

Calder applauds release of 1906 historic census records

The release of historic 1906 census records announced today is a major victory for genealogists, historians and medical researchers, says M.P. Murray Calder, who has worked several years to achieve this.

Calder applauded today's announcement by Industry Minister Allan Rock to release records from the 1906 census to researchers on the same no-strings basis as the 1901 and prior censuses. The 1906 census in Western Canada was the first after Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces.

"The 1906 census is of great historic significance to Canadians because it documents the development of the West at a time of major immigration," says Calder. "It was always Parliament's intention that this treasure would become part of Canada's permanent record and be made available to Canadians through the National Archives."

Calder also welcomed Rock's announcement that legislation will be introduced shortly to resolve the issue of census data from 1911 onwards. Calder twice introduced private members bills that would have made this information available 92 years after each census, subject to an opt-out provision for those with privacy concerns. Last fall, House Leader Don Boudria announced the government's plan to introduce legislation to release historic censuses.

Rock's announcement follows an extensive campaign by genealogists and historians. Calder has presented in the House of Commons petitions with more than 20,000 names calling for the release of records after 92 years. As well, thousands of Canadians sent letters to Parliamentarians. An estimated 7.5 million Canadians are involved in genealogical research, and the census is the only government source that records important data about ages and origins of entire families.

The 1906 census was expected to be released in 1998 after 92 years had elapsed, as had been the practice for previous censuses. But officials at Statistics Canada blocked its release citing privacy concerns. Legal opinions and an expert panel, however, concluded that census records were not intended to be sealed in perpetuity, and that confidentiality assurances applied only to contemporary use. Census instructions at the time stated: "The Census is intended to be a permanent record, and its schedules will be stored in the Archives of the Dominion."

On December 16, 1999, Senator Lorna Milne introduced Bill S-15 to allow the release of post-1901 census records after 92 years subject to an opt-out clause for those with privacy concerns. On June 2, 2000, Calder introduced an identical bill in the House of Commons. Senator Milne and Calder have since worked together closely on this issue, both reintroducing the bill after the November 2000 election.

For more information, please contact: Brian Gilbertson, Office of Murray Calder, M.P. (613) 995-7813 www.murraycalder.ca