| Name: | Ms. Bonnie Brown |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Oakville |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Telephone: | (613) 995-4014 |
| Fax: | (613) 992-0520 |
| Email: | Brown.B@parl.gc.ca |
| Website: | http://www.bonniebrown.org |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 2421 Marine Drive Unit 3 Oakville, Ontario L6L 1C6 |
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11/03/2004 - email from office of MP Bonnie Brown to Michelle Knoll. It is unfortunate that Ms. Brown appears to have taken the attitude that she will not respond to someone outside her constituency riding. Rather than sending a message asking for a mailing address and then, as has happened in other cases, likely sending another message to state they do not respond to other than their own constituents, takes far more time and effort than simply anwering the question in the first place. Should I be mistaken in my assessement of this, and Ms. Brown finally responds to the From: Brown, Bonnie - M.P. Thank you for your email letter to Bonnie Brown, Member of Parliament for Oakville. Would you please forward your mailing address? Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Janet McIlveen Assistant to --------Original Message----------- I am wondering if you have developed a position on release of census records. Michelle Knoll 10/26/2004 - email to MP Bonnie Brown from Bonnie Weber From: "Bonnie Weber" Hi Bonnie I guess you really don't care about what anyone in your constituency thinks, unless, of course, they work for Ford. A lot of us, ordinary people, have other priorities. Would you finally get off the fence - you tend to sit there most of the time, and I am really tired of being ignored. What do we need you for! To pay your salary, benefits, and retirement fund? Wish I could have a job, as easy as yours! Maybe a run in the next election with 2 Bonnie's might get your attention. Bonnie 09/15/2004 - email from Bonnie Weber to MP Bonnie Brown. From: "Bonnie Weber" Dear Ms. Brown, I am beginning to think that you haven't learned how to read? Therefore, I guess it goes without saying, that you cannot write either. Over the years you have kept insisting that a contract was made, with the people that replied to the Census. Have you ever seen that Contract? Did someone advise you that there were conditions? Do you not care to respond to the people that allow you to sit in parliament, as their "representative"! Please get off the fence, you've been on it too long. Bonnie Weber 08/29/2004 - letter sent to MP Bonnie Brown from Gordon A. Watts 29 August 2004 Ms. Bonnie Brown Dear Ms. Brown Congratulations on your recent election as a Member of Parliament. To have the trust and respect of those who voted for you is a great honour. Members who have been re-elected will be aware of an issue affecting a great many Canadians that seek their personal ancestry through research of Historic Census records. Newly elected Members may not yet be aware of this issue. It has been estimated that in excess of 7.5 million Canadians have an interest in genealogy and family history. These individuals seek to regain the same public access, with no added conditions or restrictions, to 92-year-old records of Census after 1906 that is currently available for 240 years of Census records up to that time. Access to Census records after 1906 is prevented at this time because of the (believed illegal) policy of a federal civil servant - Dr. Ivan P. Fellegi - Chief Statistician of Canada. The Library and Archives of Canada Act (and it's predecessor) has designated to the Librarian and Archivist the authority to determine what records of government are of archival or historical value and that shall be deposited in the National Library and Archives. Librarian and Archivist Ian E. Wilson determined that schedules of Census have archival and historical value. He declared them to be a National Treasure. He requested the Chief Statistician to return care and control of the records in question to his authority. Dr. Fellegi denied that request. The Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Privacy Regulations, make specific provision for personal information collected through Census or Survey to be made available to any person or body for purposes of research, 92 years following collection. The legislation assumes these records to be under the care and control of the National Archivist. By refusing to return care and control of the records in question to the Librarian and Archivist for subsequent public access the Chief Statistician has acted in deliberate contravention of the Library and Archives of Canada Act, the Access to Information Act, and the Privacy Act. He has usurped the authority of the Librarian and Archivist to determine what governmental records are of archival or historical value and that shall be deposited in the Library and Archives of Canada. In dictating policy instead of following policy determined through legislation passed by Parliament he has usurped the authority of that body. Do you believe that any Federal bureaucrat, regardless of how highly placed or regarded, is above the Laws of Canada? Do you believe that a civil servant has the power to dictate policy that contravenes legislation passed by the Parliament of Canada? The Access to Information and Privacy Acts are complementary Acts born of the same Bill debated and passed by Parliament. Do you believe the parliamentarians who passed this legislation would knowingly include clauses in one Act, the effect of which would be to totally nullify clauses in the other? If your answer to any of these questions is 'NO' we ask that you support our efforts to regain the same public access - with no added restrictions or conditions - to Historic Census records after 1906 that is currently available for 240 years of Census records up to that time. We seek nothing new. We seek only that which current legislation states we are entitled to - access that we have had in the past but is currently (believed illegally) withheld from us by the Chief Statistician of Canada. We ask that you call upon the Government of Canada to immediately direct the Chief Statistician of Canada to obey the Laws of Canada. We ask that he be directed to return care and control of schedules of Historic Census to the Librarian and Archivist of Canada for subsequent public access in accordance with the Access to Information and Privacy Acts. We ask further that you ensure continued public access to Historic Census records by seeking a government Bill that would add to the Statistics Act a single clause, similar to the following: "Original schedules of Census or authentic copies thereof shall, not later than thirty (30) years following collection, be transferred to the care and control of the National Archivist for subsequent public access in accordance with provisions of the Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Regulations attached thereto." In reading my letter you may not feel any obligation to respond to someone living outside your electoral riding. The votes you cast in Parliament, however, affect all people living in Canada and in that respect your constituency is all of Canada. Considering this, even though I do not reside in your riding I would greatly appreciate your personal response to my letter. Your response, stating your support (or otherwise) of the access we seek, will be posted to your Correspondence Log on the Post 1901 Census Project website. It will be available for viewing by your constituents on the MPs Scoreboard at www.globalgenealogy.com/Census Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, and for your consideration of this very important issue. Respectfully Gordon A. Watts 03/12/2003 -- email from office of MP Bonnie Brown to Bonnie Weber.
To: "'Bonnie Weber'" Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 9:06 AM Subject: RE: "Census Campaign" I would like to acknowledge receipt of your email note to Bonnie Brown, Member of Parliament for Oakville. Please be assured that your comments will be brought to her attention as quickly as possible. Sincerely, Janet McIlveen Assistant to Bonnie Brown, M.P. Oakville -----Original Message----- From: Bonnie Weber [mailto:bonnietravel@attcanada.ca] Sent: March 11, 2003 3:45 PM To: Brown.B@parl.gc.ca Subject: "Census Campaign" Dear Ms. Brown Do you always sit on the fence, ready to dive in either direction? Why don't you just say yes to the "Census" being published. It's not all that hard. Most of your colleagues have. Try making a decision, and you might even have a job, after the election. Of course, if you jump the other way, you will be unemployed, like the rest of us. Bonnie (Baker) Weber 12/25/2002 - email to MP Bonnie Brown from Michelle Knoll.
To: Bonnie Brown, MP Sent: Wednesday, December 25, 2002 10:03 PM Subject: Release of Census Records Dear MS Brown, As a resident of Oakville I would like to ask that you take some time to reconsider your position on release of census information. I wrote you a lengthy letter last year so won't go through that again, just urge you to take another look at the issue. Thank You Michelle Knoll 10/07/2002 - email to MP Bonnie Brown from Gordon A. Watts.
To: MP Brown, Bonnie Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:44 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census legislation Dear Ms. Brown 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 09/20/2002 - email to MP Bonnie Brown from Frank McKerry.
To: Bonnie Brown, MP Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 2:48 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census Ms. Bonnie Brown, M.P. Oakville: It is noted on the Post 1901 web site that you are on the fence (undecided) on how you are going to vote for this Bill when it comes back to the floor of the House. Have you contacted any of your constituents on this matter ? The people who elected you to represent them in the House ? Many of your constituents are eagerly awaiting the release of the 1906 and 1911 Census and are trying to get family information to complete their family tree and ancestry links. I am not one of your constituents, but I am doing research for family in your riding and your YES vote will assist me in my search. Would you please change you Undecided mark to a YES vote on the 1906 and the 1911 Census release to the Archives Canada ? Respectfully M. Frank McKERRY, C.D. Vernon, B.C. 09/09/2002 - letter to MP Bonnie Brown from Bonnie Weber.
Bonnie Brown Oakville, Ontario Dear Ms. Brown Having received your letter of July 25th, I want ask if you have actually looked at the legislation that you referred to, concerning the release of the Census information? From my understanding, there is no “contract” regarding the release of this information, and that nothing was actually done in parliament, until 1918. I urge you to quit towing the “Party Line”, and do some research. There have been several letters and articles published in national newspapers, such as “The Toronto Star”, that you might find very educational. Please do not just brush this letter off, with your usual standard reply letter. My concern as a genealogist of 37 years experience is that everyone should be entitled to find his or her “Roots”. The United States has just released the 1930 Census, and has published it for people to use in tracing their families. There has been no outcry from the people still living, that this was done. I doubt that anyone in Canada, will shout foul if the Census is published. Yours truly, Bonnie Weber Oakville, Ontario 06/25/2002 - letter from MP Bonnie Brown to Bonnie Weber.
Ms. Bonnie Weber Oakville, ON Dear Ms. Weber, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your email message to me. As noted in my previous letters, the issue of access to post-1901 census records is not one of stubbornness or noe of "hands being tied" over a piece of legislation enacted one hundred years ago. A contract was made with those who participated in the census. They divulged personal information with the understanding that it would not be made public. If that confidence is broken now just because several years passed, it sets a bad precedent. It could prevent a significant number of citizens from participating in the future and that would jeopardize the entire process. The importance of ensuring the collections of future vital national information, upon which many users depend, outweighs all other concerns. Sincerely, Bonnie Brown, MP Oakville. 04/11/2002 - letter from MP Bonnie Brown to Rick Booth.
Mr. Rick Booth Oakville, Ontario Dear Mr. Booth. Thank you for your telephone call regarding access Post-1901 Census Records. This is a very complex issue. Census records can be transferred to the National Archives only if there are no provisions in another piece of legislation that prevents the transfer. The records of censuses takin in 1901 and prior years have been transferred to the Nation Archives for public access. This was possible because the legislation that was used to collect these census records did not contain any provisions that prohibited their transfer. Up until 1901, Census-takers were instructed to protect the confidentiality of the information while collecting it, but these instructions did not have the force of law. Thus the information contiained in the records is protected only by the Privacy Act which stipulates that National Archives can make these records available to the public 92 years after the taking of the census. Starting in 1906, however, and in subsequent censuses, the legislation that gave the authority to collect census information contained statutory confidentiality provisions. These provisions are such that only the person named in the record may have access to his/her information. There is no time limitation on the access. Even when the person is deceased, the provisions are still in effect. As a result, Statistics Canada, without breaching the Statistics Act, cannot transfer the census records taken under the authority of the 1906 and subsequesnt Statistics Acts to the National Archives. Changes to the commitments made to respondents in the past could have a negative impact on the level of co-operation given to future censuses and surveys. A substantioal decrease in such co-operation could seriously jeopardize Statistics Canada's ability to carry out its national mandate of producing reliable, timely informaiton on which many users depend. Once again, thank you for taking the time to bring your concerns to my attention. Sincerely, Bonnie Brown, MP 10/10/2001 - email to MP Bonnie Brown from Helene Conroy.
To: Bonnie Brown, MP Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 9:04 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census Reports Dear Ms. Brown: Although I am not one of your constituents, I do feel a sense of urgency to express to you my concern regarding the post 1901 Census reports. I am one of 7.5 million plus Canadians involved in Genealogical research. Myself and millions of citizens, in our quest for our past, for our Canadian heritage, depend heavily upon the information provided in Census reports. It is very important to me that my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and so on, be educated and learn about their ancestors - where they were born, how they lived and what they did for a living. Many of our relatives are dispersed all across the world, and only through the post 1901 Census reports are we able to trace them. It would be wonderful to have family reunions and get to know these precious people. Unfortunately, these family reunions cannot take place because, under current legislation, post 1901 Census reports will not be released to the Public after 92 years, as have been Census reports up to and including 1901. I am asking for your support to amend the legislation which will allow release to the Public of Census records after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census. As a concerned Canadian citizen, I am asking you the following question:"Would you, as a Member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, having been placed in that position by the voting citizens of your Constituency, vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public of post 1901 Census records after 92 years, starting with the 1906 Census? I await your answer to this question at your earliest convenience, and thank you for taking the time to read my e-mail. God bless you. Sincerely, Helene Conroy 07/20/2001 - email to MP Bonnie Brown from Muriel M. Davidson.
To: Bonnie Brown, MP Sent: Friday, July 20, 2001 9:09 PM Subject: April 1999 was a LONG Time Ago!!!!! To Bonnie Brown, MP:- Periodically I check the personal message board of the elected Members of Parliament, especially the Ontario ones. This evening I was surprised to learn you have been unable to answer the first letter sent to you in April, 1999 -- surely someone could have helped you write it during this time period. YOU have a personal message board -- yours messages are ?missing? http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Score3.htm#ONT Just click on your name and read the non-existent mail. QUESTION: As an elected Member of Parliament, serving the constituents who elected you, will you SUPPORT release of Post-1901 Canadian Census Records by voting YES to any Bill, Motion on this subject? This would mean the 1911 census would be available from National Archives in 2003, and every ten years thereafter. We do suggest you discuss this subject with constituents, be dictated to by them, rather than others, as many seem to be doing. Census records are needed for family searches, one large one the 100,000 British Home Children brought here as "slave labourers" over a period of time. We also need the census for genetically inherited diseases -- just this evening, I learned of another family member with Alzheimer's -- my husband has vascular dementia. Looking forward to a very POSITIVE reply from you -- it may be by e-mail, will be posted immediately by Gordon Watts on your board. Muriel M. Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 06/19/2001 - email to MP Bonnie Brown from Muriel M. Davidson.
To: Bonnie Brown, MP Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 5:55 PM Subject: YOU have never even replied to Global Gazette!! To Bonnie Brown, MP Your personal message board is there for many to read -- does not take much time -- have YOU ever asked YOUR constituents if they desired census records released for family research? http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Score3.htm#ONT QUESTION:- Will you SUPPORT any bills and motions, as an elected member of Parliament representing your constituents, that will see the Post-1901 census records released automatically to National Archives? The Prairie Provinces have never had a Canadian census, the 1911 should be released in 2003, etc. This is the FIFTH time I have written -- I only need a short email that will not take up too much of your long vacation. Your answer will then be posted. Prior to opening of Parliament on Sept. 19th, we will be publishing names of all elected Members of Parliament who have not answered. This is a serious and involved issue - one that should not be taken lightly. As a volunteer on this committee, my riding is CANADA. Muriel M. Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 04/30/99- e-mail from The Global Gazette to MP
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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