| Name: | Ms. Hedy Fry |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Vancouver Centre |
| Province: | British Columbia |
| Telephone: | (613) 992-3213 |
| Fax: | (613) 995-0056 |
| Email: | Fry.H@parl.gc.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 1030 Denman St Suite 106 Vancouver, British Columbia V6G 2M6 |
11/22/2002 - email from MP Hedy Fry to Doug Dewolf.
To: Doug Dewolf Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 8:53 AM Dear Doug Dewolf: I have been able to confirm that Allan Rock, the Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada, has had the opportunity to review consultation reports and the numerous suggestions from interested parties including those of genealogists and historians, concerning public access to Post 1901 Census records, 92 years after their collection. Minister Rock will soon be seeking to introduce legislation that will allow access to the census records for genealogical and historical research 92 years after a census. The drafting of the proposed legislation has begun and details will be made available once the Minister tables it in the House of Commons. I support our government's commitment to guarantee access to post-1901 census records. However, until the proposed legislation is released, we will not know the kinds of privacy restrictions that will be placed on this access, and I am concerned about privacy issues. Although I believe that Canadians 92 years of age or older should have the right to keep their records private, I realize that this right must be balanced with the openness that is required for genealogical and historical research. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind when the proposed legislation is released and that I will do my part to ensure that these records are made available for Canadian researchers. Thank you for taking the time to write to me on this matter and I wish you the best of luck. Sincerely, The Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P. Vancouver Centre 11/15/2002 - email from MP Hedy Fry to Gordon A. Watts. Ms. Fry falls short of actually stating she will vote in favour of a Bill that would give the same access to records after 1901 that is available for records up to 1901. It is felt, however, that her response is positive enough to earn her gold tick.
To: Gordon A. Watts Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 11:59 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census November 15, 2002 Dear Gordon A. Watts, I am sorry to have taken so long to reply. Since your letter of October 8, I have been able to confirm that Allan Rock, the Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada, has had the opportunity to review consultation reports and the numerous suggestions from interested parties including those of genealogists and historians, concerning public access to Post 1901 Census records, 92 years after their collection. Minister Rock will soon be seeking to introduce legislation that will allow access to the census records for genealogical and historical research 92 years after a census. The drafting of the proposed legislation has begun and details will be made available once the Minister tables it in the House of Commons. I fully support our government's commitment to guarantee access to post-1901 census records. However, until the proposed legislation is released, we will not know the kinds of privacy restrictions that will be placed on this access. Although I believe that Canadians 92 years of age or older should have the right to keep their records private, I realize that this right must be balanced with the openness that is required for genealogical and historical research. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind when the proposed legislation is released and that I will do my part to ensure that these records are made available for Canadian researchers. Thank you for taking the time to write to me on this matter and I wish you the best of luck. Sincerely, The Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P. Vancouver Centre The Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P. Vancouver Centre 583 Confederation Building Ottawa, On. K1A 0A6 tel. (613) 992-3213 fax. (613) 995-0056 10/07/2002 - email to MP Hedy Fry from Gordon A. Watts.
To: MP Fry, Hedy Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:44 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census legislation Dear Ms. Fry 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 10/15/2002 - email from office of MP Hedy Fry to Phil Riley.
To: 'Phil Riley' Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 10:50 AM Subject: RE: Post 1901 Census Dear E. Phillip Riley, I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence addressed to the Honourable Hedy Fry regarding the release of Post 1901 census reports. Please be assured that I will bring your correspondence to Dr. Fry's attention. In the interim, if I can be of assistance in any way please do not hesitate to call the office. Sincerely, Natalie L. MacDonald Adminstrative Assistant The Hon. Hedy Fry, M.P. Vancouver Centre Tel.: (613) 992-3213 Fax: (613) 995-0056 09/29/2002 - email from office of MP Hedy Fry to Phil Riley.
To: 'Phil Riley' Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 5:54 PM Subject: RE: Post 1901 Census Dear E. Philip Riley, I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence addressed to the Honourable Hedy Fry regarding the release of the Post-1901 census records. Please be assured that I will bring your correspondence to Dr. Fry’s attention. In the interim, if I can be of assistance in any way please do not hesitate to call the office. Yours truly, Alec M. Morrison Legislative Assistant The Hon. Hedy Fry, M.P. Vancouver Centre Tel.: (613) 992-3213 Fax: (613) 995-0056 11/29/01 - letter from MP Hedy Fry to Frank McKerry.
Vernon, British Columbia Dear Mr. McKerry: Thank you for your correspondence of october 14, 2001, regarding public acccess to the 1911 and other post-1901 Canadian census records. I appreciate your taking the time to write to inform me of your views. Since this matter falls under the purview of my colleague, the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry, I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your correspondence for consideration. Please accept my best wishes. Yours sincerely, The Honourable Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P. cc: The Honourable Brian Tobin, P.C., M.P. 11/22/2001 - letter from MP Hedy Fry to Marge MacDonald.
Dear Ms. Macdonald: Thank you for your electronic message of April 8th, 2001, with regard to access to historical census records. First let me say that I regret that, due to the great volume of correspondence I receive, it is not always possible for me to respond in as timely a fashion as I would like. However, I do find it very useful to hear the views and opinions of Canadians on a variety of issues, and I would like to reiterate my thanks that you took the time to write about this important issue. I have been in touch with the Minister of Industry, the Honourable Brian Tobin who is the minister responsible for this issue. From my contact with him and upon carefully reviewing the matter, it is clear that more consultation wth all Canadians is required before a decision is made as to the release of historical census records. While genealogists, historians and archivists have been making their view known, the voice of those Canadians who may be less interested in genealogy or family history, but who are also required to provide personal information to the census, has not yet been heard. Thus far, research has shown that a significant number of Canadians are very concerned about what they see as a retroactive change to the conditions under what they provided confidential personal information to Statistics Canada. Even more importantly, they indicate that this might affect their cooperation with future censuses, and with Statistics Canada in general. The census can be critically weakened if even a small portion of the population withdraw their trust. Should that happen, the quality of the census, and indeed of the entire statistical system, would suffer. As the of the release of an Expert Panel's report, Minister Tobin indicated that further broad based consultations with all Canadians would be needed to ensure that, if access to historical records was to be provided, it be done in a manner that respects the Government's commitment to privacy. To that end, Minister Tobin has informed me that Statistics Canada is arranging for such a consultation process, involving town hall meetings across the country, starting in December, to assess the views of Canadians on this issue. These town hall meetings with be supplemented with other research to test various alternatives. After the govenment has had the opportunity to review the results of these consultations early in the new year, we will work to determine was course of action would be best to resolve this issue. Thank you for taking the time to write to me on this matter. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind in future discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on this subject. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, The Honourable Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P. Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) 09/29/1999 - email from Louise Desramaux (Statistics Canada) to Christine Fretwell.
At the request of the Honourable John Manley, Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada, Statistics Canada has developed options for amending the legislation to allow access to Census records. As it stands, there are two possibilities: the first option contemplates amending the Statistics Act to allow records, starting with the 2001 Census and carrying on from there, to be transfereed to the National Archives of Canada to be subsequently made available to the public; the second option is to retroactively change the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act to allow the 1911 and all censuses taken thereafter to be eventually placed in the public domain. The length of time that would have to elapse in either scenario before the public could have access to the records would be 92 years, which is keeping with current regulations pursuant to the Privacy Act relating to personal information under the control of the National Archives. The Minister is in the process of examining both options and must carefully consider their implications before any decision is taken. Thank you for taking the time to make your views known. Sincerely, Louise Desramaux Privacy Coordinator
Hedy Fry Minister of Parliament, Vancouver Centre House of Commons Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Madam: I’m writing to express my concern, and learn your position on something I consider very important to the heritage of Canada. There are estimates that over seven million Canadians are currently involved in Genealogical research. All of these people rely on the information provided in the Census reports. Under current legislation, post 1901 Census reports will not be released to the Public after 92 years. To date, all the Census reports up to and including 1901 have been released to the public. I have personally been involved in researching my family history for over a decade. In this time, I’ve made use of all the available years of census records. In many cases, these records are the only source of information available. My primary areas of research are Nova Scotia and Ontario. Since I currently live in British Columbia, the census records are one of the only sources of information available to me. Through genealogical research, I have learnt far more than just names and dates. I’ve discovered more about Canadian history than was ever taught in school. I’ve been enlightened on aspects of living in a different era, including diseases, infant mortality rates, family compositions and migration patterns. I have developed an even deeper love and respect for my country. Current legislation could stop that learning process. We are not looking for access to financial or medical information. We are looking for the basics that will help us identify our relatives; things like name, date of birth, province/country of birth, occupation, religion and family/household groupings. These are the cornerstones of genealogical research. In the past two years, many of those over 7 million voters, have sent numerous letters and emails to their local Members of Parliament, Government Ministers, and Senators expressing their dismay with, and opposition to, this legislation. They have requested the legislation be amended to allow release to the Public of Census reports after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census. I am adding my voice to the crowd. I write to you, as my Member of Parliament, to ask two questions as follow: Would you, as an elected Member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, be willing to prepare and present to the House, a Bill supporting release to the Public of Post 1901 Census Reports after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census? 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 Reports after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census? I await your answer to the above questions at your earliest convenience. Thank you. Sincerely, Christine Fretwell Concerned Citizen 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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