| Name: | Mr. Ken Epp |
| Political Party: | Conservative |
| Constituency: | Edmonton - Sherwood Park |
| Province: | Alberta |
| Telephone: | (613) 995-3611 |
| Fax: | (613) 995-3612 |
| Email: | Epp.K@parl.gc.ca or ken@kenepp.com |
| Website: | http://www.kenepp.com |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 141 Seneca Road Sherwood Park, Alberta T8A 4G6 Tel. 780-464-3633 Market Square 10404 - 99 Avenue Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta 137 Avenue at 36 Street Edmonton, Alberta |
09/20/2000 - email from MP Ken Epp to Muriel M. Davidson.
Wednesday, September 20, 2000 7:17 pm Ottawa Ms Muriel M. Davidson: Thanks for your e-mail which I received on the 18th. ======================= Here is what you wrote: Q: Will YOU support Jason Kenney's Motion M-160? A: Either YES or NO, please. Now, my response: ====================== First, I think we have it backwards! I am YOUR representative and therefore it would be much more useful for YOU to tell me how YOU would like me to vote! I hope that you will still do that! At the present time, I am inclined to vote for the motion. This is based on the fact that I have received a number of submissions from constituents (and others around the country) who are urging us to support this Bill. I have received very few (if any -- I don't remember getting even one) asking me to continue to block these records. I am sure you know the dilemma. Originally, the census information was gathered with a commitment of confidentiality. Now it is clear that by the year 2003, there will be very few people left who gave information in the 1911 census, but there is still the dilemma of "how long do you wait until it is okay to break your promise?" I struggle a bit with that conundrum. However, as many people have pointed out, the information would now be very useful to many people who are doing research, both historical and geneological. What harm can possibly be done by releasing the information for people whose descendents now want to know? So there you are. I have answered according to your spec. If the vote were held today, I would vote YES. Does that agree with your position? I would really like to know. Now, just a little further to the situation. This bill was debated this evening. In fact, the debate just ended about ten minutes ago. The Liberals moved an amendment which basically does nothing. It will allow the Liberals to vote in favour of the amendment, thereby changing Jason Kenney's motion -- in fact it effectively neutralizes the motion. So they will vote in favour of the amendment and then they will vote in favour of the amended and demasculated motion. That way they don't need to vote on a controversial issue. After all, they don't want to alienate anyone with an election coming up soon. (Am I sounding too cynical?) I better quit. Thanks for writing. Please e-mail me back. If you use eppk@parl.gc.ca it will come to my assistant; if you use eppk9@parl.gc.ca, that will come directly to my computer, and you will have my personal response. Sincerely, Ken Epp, MP Elk Island
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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