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POST 1901 CENSUS PROJECT
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Correspondence Log

Name:
The Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew Sitting on the Fence

Political Party:
Liberal Party of Canada

Constituency:
Western Arctic

Province:
Northwest Territories

Telephone:
(613) 992-4587

Fax:
(613) 992-7411

Email:
Blondin-Andrew.E@parl.gc.ca

Address:
House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6


Constituency Address:
5102 - 50 Avenue Suite 102
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
X1A 3S8


10/07/2002 - email to MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew from Gordon A. Watts.
    From: Gordon A. Watts
    To: MP Blondin-Andrew, Ethel
    Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:44 AM
    Subject: Post 1901 Census legislation

    Dear Ms. Blondin-Andrew

    At long last there has been a public acknowledgement by the Government of Canada that they have an interest in the concerns of Canadians, and others, that seek continuing access to Post-1901 Census records.

    That acknowledgement took the form of inclusion of a statement in an address of the Hon. Don Boudria, Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. The address was made to the Newsmakers Breakfast at the National Press Club, 3 October 2002. It was titled "The Government's Fall Legislative Program". On page four of Mr. Boudria's notes for that address, he states:

    "Other legislation will also be introduced respecting:

      The release of 92-year old census records for historical research purposes - which responds to recommendations and work done by parliamentarians in the House and Senate such as MP Calder and Senator Milne;"

     This acknowledgement of our concerns, on behalf of the government, is welcome news. It does not yet mean, however, that continued public access of Historic Census records has been approved and those records are now available to access for purposes of research. The proposed legislation has not yet been brought down, and it remains to be seen if, when it is brought down, it meets the needs and expectations of those seeking access. Senator Lorna Milne continues to work with the Hon. Allan Rock, Minister of Industry, to ensure that the end result does meet those needs and expectations.

    I remind you that what we seek is exactly the same unrestricted access to records after 1901 that is currently available for those records up to and including 1901.

    I currently show you on the MPs Scoreboard of the Post 1901 Census Project website (at the URL following my signature) as "sitting on the fence". You have been given this position by virtue of the fact that you have yet to give a definitive response stating your support, or otherwise, for public access to Historic Census records, 92 years after collection. (Or, at least, that I have seen no such response.)

    In view of the fact that the Government has now stated it's intention to introduce legislation that will hopefully address our concerns, will you now give a definitive response stating your supportive position for such legislation?

    I am not one of your constituents, but in writing to you I believe that I speak on behalf of a great many others who are your constituents. As such, I hope that you will afford me the courtesy of a response to this message. In responding to my message with a supportive answer to my question, so that it might be posted to your correspondence log, you would likely save yourself a great many similar requests by others.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my message, and for responding thereto. Have a great day!

    Sincerely

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

09/21/2002 - email to MP Ethel Blonddin-Andrew from Vince Hunter.
    From: Vince Hunter
    To: Larry Bagnell, MP; Ione Christensen, Sen.
    Cc: Willie Adams, Sen. ; Ethel Blondin-Andrew, MP ; Nick Sibbeston, Sen ; Nancy Karetak-Lindell, MP
    Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 4:45 PM
    Subject: Fw: Post 1901 Census - A Summary

    With the Proroguing of the current session of Parliament, new bills will have to be reintroduced for a third time for the release to the public of the Post 1901 Census. I hope your interest in having the Census released to the National Archives will result in your support of these new bills.

    I include a summary of the Post 1901 Census oddyssey below to refresh your memory.

    Yours sincerely,

    Vincent Hunter, vinceh@internorth.com
    Yukon Member,Canada Census Committee
    Whitehorse, Yukon

    -------Original Message-------
    From: "Gordon A. Watts"
    To: "Canada Census Campaign"
    Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 6:09 PM
    Subject: Post 1901 Census - A Summary

    Greetings All.

    A number of people have asked for a point by point summary of the Post 1901 Census issue. Because of this I have compiled the following Summary. Feel free to circulate it to those you feel will be interested. It will shortly be included on the Post 1901 Census Project website which, I am happy to say after the problems of the past few days, is once again accessible.

    Happy Hunting.

    Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net
    Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee
    Port Coquitlam, BC

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

    Permission to forward without notice is granted.

    ***********************************

    Post 1901 Census Issue Summary

  • 235 years of Census records, from the first Census of New France in 1666, up to and including the 1901 national Census of Canada, currently reside in the National Archives of Canada and are accessible to any person or body for purposes of research.


  • Clauses in the Access to Information and Privacy Acts make specific provision for public access to 'personal' information contained in Census 92 years after collection.


  • The National Archives of Canada Act provides that the National Archivist shall determine what records of government are of historical or archival value and that shall be deposited in the National Archives.


  • The National Archivist, Ian E. Wilson, has determined that records of Historic Census do have historical or archival value and are, in fact, a National treasure. He has formally requested Statistics Canada to turn control of the 1906 Special Census of the Western Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) over to his control.


  • Statistics Canada (i.e. Chief Statistician Dr. Ivan P. Fellegi) refuses to turn control of Historic Census records after 1901 over to control of the National Archivist of Canada.


  • The rational for this refusal is based on misinterpreted legislation and Instructions to Officers and Enumerators of Census going back as far as 1905, and Statistics Canada's claim that a 'promise' was made to the people of Canada that confidentiality of Census was perpetual.


  • Statistics Canada has been unable to provide a single piece of documented evidence that a 'promise' of 'confidentiality of Census in perpetuity' has ever been made. It does not exist!


  • In November 1999, then Industry Minister John Manley appointed an Expert Panel to study and make recommendations regarding public access to Historic Census Records. Their report, finally made public 15 December 2000, found no evidence that legislators of the day intended that records of Census were to remain confidential for all time. They recommended allowing public access to all Census records, past, present and future, 92 years after collection. They urged caution only in the method by which records from 1918 to 2001 were made available.


  • In making the Report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records public, then Industry Minister Brian Tobin discounted the recommendations contained therein, claiming that 'further broad-based consultations with all Canadians' was required. He stated these consultations would take place with already mandated reviews of the Access to Information and Privacy Acts.


  • The review of the Access to Information Act took place and the report released with no mention of public access to Historic Census records - it was not part of their mandate. A review of the Privacy Act is not expected to be completed within three years, and access to Census is likewise not included in the mandate of those expected to review it.


  • In December 2001 and January 2002 a series of Town Hall Meetings and Focus Groups were conducted across Canada. Of 157 presenters at the Town Hall Meetings, 151 were fully supportive of unrestricted public access of all records of Census, 92 years after collection, in accordance with current legislation.


  • Each of these 151 presenters likewise rejected the so-called 'compromise solution' being pushed by Statistics Canada as being too restrictive in who might access the records, what information might be accessed and what might be done with information retrieved.


  • The 'compromise' does not do what it is proposed to do. It would be excessively expensive to set up and maintain, and would be a bureaucratic nightmare to administer. It would prevent access for the greater portion of the Canadian population that do not live within reasonable travel distance to a government office holding copies of the Census records.


  • Instructions to Officers and Enumerators of Census from at least 1901 to 1946, having the Force of Law, contain clauses that state that records of Census "have value as a record for historical use", that "The census is intended to be a permanent record", and "its schedules will be stored in the Archives of the Dominion." If any 'promise' was made to the people of Canada regarding Census it was this.


  • On 5 March 2002, Calgary lawyer Lois Sparling, on behalf of the Canada Census Committee and many thousands of genealogists and historians, submitted an Application for Judicial Review to the Federal Court of Canada. The purpose of this Application is to obtain a Writ of Mandamus to compel the Chief Statistician of Canada to turn control of 1906 Census schedules over to the National Archivist. It was later modified to include a request for certain declarations relating to public access of these records. At the time of writing the legal action is proceeding more or less as expected.


  • To date (September 2002), more than 55,000 signatures have been sent to Ottawa seeking to regain public access to Post 1901 Census records on the same basis as records up to and including 1901 are currently available.


  • There is still a requirement for signatures on petitions (downloadable from the Post 1901 Census Project website), and for letters to be sent to MPs and Senators seeking their support for access. With an expected proroguing of the current session of Parliament on 30 September 2002 all Bills and Motions (including Bill S-12) will cease to exist. It is expected that Senator Lorna Milne and MP Murray Calder will immediately re-introduce their Census Bills. This will be the third time our Bills have been started from scratch. It is therefore essential that we continue to reinforce our desire for access with our elected and appointed representatives.

08/28/2002 - email to MP Ethel Blondid-Andrew from Vince Hunter.
    From: Vince Hunter
    To: Blondin-Andrew.E@parl.gc.ca
    Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 1:40 PM
    Subject: An Important Message

    Dear Ms. Blondin-Andrew,

    It has come to my attention that you are one of the very few MP’s who has not responded to the following question:

    Would you, as a member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada and representing northern Canadians, Vote for or against a Bill supporting the release to the public of the Post 1901 Census Records after 92 years, starting with the 1906 Census?

    Before you send me your reply, I would ask you to read an article written for the Toronto Star describing the great need for the 1906 census release. It explains the entire situation very well. The URL for the article is: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~downhome/1906census.html . If you cannot get to a computer to view this article, I would ask your assistant that initially reads this e-mail to download a hardcopy for your viewing when you can find some time.

    I do hope your answer is in the affirmative, as is your Yukon counterpart, Larry Bagnell’s support. I and close to 8 million family historians pray for the release of those post 1901 census so that we can complete our family research and pass on the family “Tree” to our future families.

    It is important to me that I receive your personal answer to the above question and I thank you for taking the time to read my e-mail.

    Sincerely,

    Vincent Hunter vinceh@internorth.com
    Yukon Member, Canada Census Committee
    Whitehorse, Yukon

12/29/2002 - email to MP Ethel Blondid-Andrew from Lyn Duncan.
    From: Lyn Duncan
    To: Ethel Blondid-Andrew, MP
    Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 2:42 PM
    Subject: Canada Census Campaign - Post 1901 to National Archives.

    Dear MP Ms Ethel Blondid-Andrew

    Will you please show your support of Stats Canada realeasing to our National Archives (after 92) years. Our Canadian History so we may find where and how our families settled this great country?

    Please have the courtesy to give your personal reply to this very basic question.

    Thank you in advance from a Canadian family since (?) only the Census can tell me this for sure.

    Lyn Duncan,
    White Rock, BC

07/13/2001 - email to MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew from Muriel M. Davidson.
    From: Muriel M. Davidson
    To: Blondin-Andrew.E@parl.gc.ca
    Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 4:42 PM
    Subject: The Honourable Brian Tobin or Staff NEVER Reply

    The Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, MP:-

    In one letter I received from you, I was astounded you would believe:- "Ms. Blondin-Andrew has taken your views into consideration and has asked that I forward your letters to her colleague, the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry, for his consideration and review. She has also asked that his officials respond directly to you." This letter may be found on your message board at

    http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Score5.htm#NWT

    The answer is a "cop-out" -- did you honestly believe The Honourable Brian Tobin or any of his staff would reply? We do not even know where Tobin hides all his letters -- they cannot be found, it seems.

    YOU were the one elected in your constituency to represent YOUR constituents -- Tobin was elected in Newfoundland. Your constituents ask that you speak on their behalf -- have you ever discussed census issue with any of them?

    The piece of FENCE is reserved for Fence Sitters -- those who answer, but do not really reply.

    We are looking forward to the day when there are only two colours:- GOLD and RED.

    Please do not tell me I am not in your constituency -- in this capacity, my riding is Canada.

    Muriel M. Davidson
    Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee

06/02/2001 - email to MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew from Muriel M. Davidson.

    From: "Muriel M. Davidson"
    To: Ethel Blondin-Andrew - MP
    Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 12:11 PM
    Subject: Your Letter of May 16, 2001 Does Not Give An Answer

    To Ms. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, MP:-

    Your letter from an assistant and dated May 16, 2001 merely stated you had received a memo from me.

    Also you requested Brian Tobin to reply directly to me.

    You know that is not a true answer -- he never replies.

    Again, will YOU support Murray Calder, MP and his PMB C-312 for release of post-1901 census records to National Archives? Senator Lorna Milne, also of the Liberal caucus, has Bill S-12, with identical wording.

    At the most, your personal message board will show nothing more than a piece of fence, reserved for non-committal elected MPs. Could we have a personal answer, please?

    Muriel M. Davidson
    Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee

05/16/2001 - letter from MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew to Muriel M. Davidson.

    May 16, 2001

    Ms. Muriel M. Davidson
    Canada Census Committee
    Brampton, Ontario

    Dear Ms. Davidson:

    On behalf of the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, I would like to thank you for your emails of March 5, 2001 and April 18, 2001 in regards to the Census Bill. I apologize for not responding sooner.

    Ms. Blondin-Andrew has taken your views into consideration and has asked that I forward your letters to her colleague, the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry, for his consideration and review. She has also asked that his officials respond directly to you.

    Once again, thank you for taking the time to write.

    Sincerely,

    Kimberly Arp
    Special Assistant

    ========Original Message============

    Subject: Could we Change A Date On YOUR Message Board?
    Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 23:23:33 -0400
    From: Muriel M. Davidson
    Organization: Canada Census Committee Member
    To: Ethel Blondin-Andrew, MP

    To The Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, MP, Western Arctic:-

    Although I have written to you before by e-mail and by post, you have declined to have the courtesy to even answer. I know you must have constituents who elected you -- this e-mail is being posted in the area.

    Check http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Score5.htm#NWT

    Under your name is YOUR personal message board -- you have not even replied to the April 1999 message and it is now MAY 2001.

    We know you must follow the dictates of your party caucus, but when there is a vote on Murray Calder's PMB C-312, it will be a FREE vote.

    How will you vote? As your constituents desire?

    Have you ever asked constituents if they desired the release of post-1901 Canada Census Records -- I receive messages via internet from your area and their concerns are no different than in other parts of Canada.

    Murray Calder is having very good response with his Letters to the Editor, at least he is one Member of Parliament who works for all of Canada, as I do on committee work.

    Looking forwarding to getting rid of the 1999 -- it is now 2001.

    Muriel M. Davidson
    Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee

04/30/99- e-mail from The Global Gazette to MP
    This e-mail has been transmitted to all Members of Parliament to ask for individual responses to a specific question regarding how you would vote if a Bill to reverse earlier legislation depriving Canadians of the important heritage information contained in census records after 1901, was tabled.

    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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