| Name: | Ruby Dhalla |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Brampton - Springdale |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Telephone: | (613) 995-4843 |
| Fax: | (613) 994-7003 |
| Email: | Dhalla.R@parl.gc.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | Suite 215 - 284 Queen Street East Brampton, Ontario L6V 1C2 Tel: 905-874-6868 Fax: 905-874-1415 |
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04/05/2005 - email from MP Ruby Dhalla to Cameron Bryant From: Dhalla, Ruby - M.P. Cameron, Thank you for your correspondence concerning the issue of the 1911 census. I am particularly impressed by your interest in genealogy at such a young age. It is people like yourself who are dynamic young Canadians that will ensure a prosperous future for our country. I want you to know that I have received many letters and phone calls on this issue. I hope that in the near future this matter will be resolved and the 1911 Census will be released. In the interim, I wish you the very best in your educational studies. Regards, Dr. Ruby Dhalla, M.P. --------Original Message-------- Dear Ms. Dhalla, My name is Cameron Bryant. I am a sixteen year old student who lives in St. Thomas, Ontario. I am writing to you to ask for your support with the release of the 1911 census early. I am an avid genealogist, so you can see that I have a vested interest in seeing that the 1911 Census can be released. The opening of the 1911 census would be a goldmine for genealogists just like me. It would give us information on relatives who lived not long ago, a rarity in the genealogy trade. I always find it fascinating to learn about things like what occupation my great-grandfather had, or where my great-great grandmother was born. These things are not only important for my own information, but important to history so we can learn about our ancestors and our past. Also, countries like the United States and Britain release their census information far before the 93 years our census has been sealed. As well, it is a common misnomer that census participants were told the records would be sealed for 100 years. This argument was proven more recently, and as a result the 1906 Census was successfully released. I could also point out that many of your fellow Liberals support the census release. I hope you will consider your stance and choose to be in favour of allowing the early release. It is important -especially for young people like myself- to connect with our ancestors and learn about them so that we may move forward in life. I look forward to your reply. Respectfully Yours, Cameron Bryant 11/03/2004 - email from office of MP Ruby Dhalla to Michelle Knoll. From: Dhalla, Ruby - M.P. Ms. Knoll, Thank you for your e-mail. Please rest assured that I will give Dr. Dhalla your e-mail and she will answer your querry promptly. Thank you. Susan Hill --------Original Message----------- Ms. Dhalla, I am wondering if you have developed a position on release of census records. Michelle Knoll 09/24/2004 - email to MP Ruby Dhalla from Muriel M. Davidson From: "Muriel M. Davidson" To Ruby Dhalla, MP -- Brampton-Springdale riding When you hold your new constituence office open house, would it not be great to know your symbol for census release is GOLD? Very possibly, as you may not have lived in Canada for many years, but the 1911 census records are very important to all Canadians plus many from other countries. Wishing you all the best at your open house at 284 Queen Street East, Brampton, ON YOur personal message board will be updated by gordon Watts http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Score3.htm#ON Unless otherwise directed, looking forward to an early reply. You might also consider petitions being signed for both the House of Commons and Senate and mailed to myself http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index.htm/ Muriel M. Davidson muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca 29 August 2004 Ms. Ruby Dhalla Dear Ms. Dhalla 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 06/28/2004 - Ms. Ruby Dhalla was elected to the House of Commons 28 June 2004. |
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