| Name: | Mr. Vic Toews |
| Political Party: | Conservative |
| Constituency: | Provencher |
| Province: | Manitoba |
| Telephone: | (613) 992-3128 |
| Fax: | (613) 995-1049 |
| Email: | Toews.V@parl.gc.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 323 Main Street PO Box 2470 Steinbach, Manitoba R0A 2A0 55 McArthur Avenue PO Box 266 Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba R0E 1A0 67 Second Street NE PO Box 2099 Altona, Manitoba R0G 0B0 |
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10/08/2003 - email to MP Vic Toews from Wayne Neily. From: Wayne Neily Mr. Victor Toews Dear Mr. Toews: Thanks for your reply. I was delighted to learn that your position is very close to mine on this issue, and hope that you will not mind if I forward your reply to the co-ordinators of the GlobalGenealogy.com census pages so that they can appropriately show you with a gold star instead of a fence! I know that you are probably too busy to send unnecessary e-mails, so I shall assume that you have no objections if I do not hear to the contrary by Saturday Oct. 11. Although we do not know whether the government intends to pursue this Bill this autumn (there are likely much higher priorities), if it does get sent to committee, I hope that you or others in your party will move at least to delete the section 8 (and delete the dates from #'s 4 and 7). Such an amendment would be supported by many in other parties, including quite a few Liberals, if they could vote freely on it, and, if passed, would require it to go back to the Senate, probably killing it for this Parliamentary session. If it should go through as amended, though, most historians and genealogists could live with the rest, and Mr. Fellegi would no longer have any excuse for withholding censuses (including the 1911 one that should be available by now). If not, we will have to wait for him to be ordered by cabinet to turn it over (as I understand happened with the 1906 one) or wait for some of the legal cases in progress to direct him to do so. I agree with your comments on the unnecessary complications introduced by the other sections, and would be quite happy to see everything after the first paragraph of (4) deleted, and it re-worded simply as "The information contained in the returns of any census of population taken in Canada may, starting 92 years after the census is taken, be examined by any person [optional - wishing to conduct historical or genealogical research]." This is probably too simple to get widespread support, however. It seems to me that part of the problem is that the current management of Statistics Canada have never recognized that one of the purposes of the Census is to provide a permanent record of the families of Canada at each 10-year interval, and they may want to use it to obtain sensitive information which could better be acquired by surveys. Yours truly Wayne Neily From: "Toews, Vic - Assistant 1" Dear Mr. Neily, Thank you for taking the time to contact me on this issue. I am pleased to be given the opportunity of providing you with my position. Please be advised that I support the preservation of census records and the subsequent transfer of these records to the National Archives for public release. I believe that it is not necessary to keep the records confidential for longer than the historical 92-year limit. I will not be supporting S-13 in its current form because of the needless restrictions on the release of information after 92 years. As it currently stands, this bill will allow limited access to "tombstone" census information after 92 years. Full access to census records will only be allowed after 112 years. We believe S-13 further complicates matters by allowing access after 92 years only to designated individuals. The designation process will result in a complicated bureaucracy, added costs and the question of who will police the census. I hope that I have been able to clarify my position on this matter to your satisfaction. Yours truly, Vic Toews, MP Provencher ----------Original Message------------- Dear Mr. Toews: As you are my representative in the House of Commons, I was very disappointed to see that you are still listed as a fence-sitter on the question of census release, and the only Manitoba member other than Mr Paktagan not to support the transfer of census records to the Archives for research by historians after the usual 92-year period. If you have not attempted family history research yourself, you may not be aware how important the census records are for that purpose. For many people, church records simply do not exist, and censuses may be the best source of information on ordinary families. Until a few years ago, the system worked very well, with automatic transfer of records from Statistics Canada to the National Archives after 92 years, at which time they were made public, as provided for in legislation. As far as I can tell, no one ever complained about this, and many thousands appreciated it very much. Of course in other countries the holding period is usually less (e.g., in U.S.A., the 1930 census is already accessible), but most could live with 92 years of privacy protection. Unfortunately, along came Mr. Ivan Fellegi, the current Chief Statistician, who promptly made himself public enemy # 1 for anyone concerned with history by refusing to turn over the 1906 and subsequent censuses to the Archives, citing an inconsistency in regulations and a promise (of which no one else has been able to find any evidence) by Sir Wilfrid Laurier to keep census data confidential forever. The current Bill S-13 is the government's response, to allow release with restrictions, and it has left genealogists with mixed feelings. We applaud the main thrust, but Mr. Fellegi has managed to include a clause that will make it almost unworkable, as well as greatly increasing the cost of processing the census. This is the provision that in future censuses there should be a check-off option that people could use to indicate wheter or not they wanted the information made public after 100 years. If this requirement is not removed by amendment, it is the opinion of most that we are better off without the legislation, since the government's own legal opinion has already indicated that Statistics Canada should be required to turn over the data to the Archives as in the past. If you would like more information on the issues, check out the site http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census . Hoping to hear that you have joined the ranks of those supporting unfettered census release as in the past, Sincerely Wayne Neily
To: MP Toews, Vic Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:44 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census legislation Dear Mr. Toews 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 06/13/2002 - email to MP Vic Toews from Jim Moeller.
To: Vic Toews, MP Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 3:28 PM Dear Mr Toews, As a Canadian descendant, yet an American citizen, I wish to lend my support to the release of the post 1901 census documents. My late mother was born in Winnipeg and lived there until coming to the States as a 12 year old girl. My great grandparents may very well have been some of those promised obscutity in the census collections following 1901. But I strongly feel they would not have wanted to be lost to their families. These people and the issues of that day are long past, and it is time to put aside the issues and recognize our ancestors exixtence. While my ancestors were hard working people, not leaving a public historical trail, it has become very difficult to trace them and my related extended families through other sources. The release of the census data would be instrumental in helping me, and all family researchers with Canadian heritage, from around the world, to find their rightful place in the settling and development of Canada. Please consider all of us with Canadian ties when you declare your vote on this question. Your public declaration of support, and your leadership in helping others to understand the right to our heritage would help bring a rightful and expedient conclusion to this question. Respectfully, Jim Moeller Beaverton Oregon USA 09/24/2001 - email to MP Vic Toews from Frank McKerry.
To: Vic Toews Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 11:59 PM Subject: Release of Census Vic TOEWS, M.P. Provencher, MB No I am not one of your constituents, but when you vote in the House it still affects my family and me, therefore in a way you also represent us. It is noted that you are undecided on how you will vote on the release of the Census to Archives Canada. Thousands of families, many of them your constituents, are trying to trace ancestors who pioneered this great country - Canada. We require these Census to bring closure to our families. We urge you to vote YES on the Bill that will soon come to the floor for the Release of the Census. Respectfully Frank McKerry Vernon, BC 05/23/2001 - email from MP Vic Toews to Muriel M. Davidson. This message from his assistant gives the position of the Canadian Alliance Party, rather than the position of Mr. Toews and therefore earns a 'fence'. Should Mr. Toews respond giving his personal position, he may earn his gold tick of support. From: Toews, Vic - Assistant 1 To: Muriel M. Davidson Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 1:25 PM Subject: RE: Census records Dear Ms. Davidson, Thank you for your e-mail expressing support for the release of post-1901 census records. I would like to take this time to reply to you on behalf of Mr. Toews. We appreciate knowing your views on this issue and are pleased to be given the opportunity of providing you with our position. The Canadian Alliance supports the preservation of census records and the subsequent transfer of these records to the National Archives for public release. We believe that keeping the records confidential for the historical 92-year period is an adequate length of time, and that this is generally consistent with the practice in Britain and the United States where records are kept confidential for 100 and 72 years respectively. In terms of voting, Bill C-312 has not as yet been designated a "votable item". Although all Private Member's Bills are indeed "free votes", most are simply debated at first and second readings, then dropped from the order Paper. In very few circumstances are members actually given the opportunity to vote on these bills. However, should this Bill in the future be deemed votable, I imagine that most, if not all Canadian Alliance members will support the Bill. Once again, thank you very much for writing. Sincerely, Tara Katrusiak Legislative Assistant Office of Vic Toews, MP -----Original Message----- From: Muriel M. Davidson [mailto:davidson3542@home.com] Sent: May 17, 2001 12:39 AM To: Pallister, Brian - M.P.; Toews, Vic - M.P. Subject: No BLUE Allowed on Manitoba's Scoreboard!!!! To Mr. Brian Pallister, MP and Mr. Vic Toews, MP:- To make less typing for myself, as you are both members of the same party, I am combining the message. However, I look for separate messages, one from each of you -- we want to get rid of the Blue ??? in Manitoba. Each of you have a personal message board on the Census Scoreboard: http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Score2.htm Just click on your name -- your blank message board states you were elected Nov. 27, 2000 -- time for an answer to me, please! Both possibly know Murray Calder, MP, has Private Member's Bill C-312 which has passed First Reading, backed up by many signed petitions including some from your constituents. Mr. Calder's Bill is identical in wording to that of Senator Lorna Milne who has Bill S-12, passed its Second Reading and in Committee. The Canadian Alliance party members have repeatedly written the party strongly supports release of the post-1901 census records with automatic transfer to National Archives. The census records are already there, but it is Statistics Canada keeping them from us. QUESTION:- How will you vote -- in SUPPORT of Murray Calder's Bill C-312? It would also be nice if someone from your party spoke on this bill. All votes on a PMB are FREE VOTES. The Canada Census Committee has a Manitoba representative, Chris Bukoski Please reply to both Chris Bukoski and myself -- hopefully with a YES. Gordon Watts wishes to update the scoreboard -- so could we know by Friday, please? Muriel M. Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census 11/27/2000 - Mr. Vic Toews was elected to the House of Commons 27 November 2000. |
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