| Name: | Mr. Joe McGuire |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Egmont |
| Province: | Prince Edward Island |
| Telephone: | (613) 992-9223 |
| Fax: | (613) 992-1974 |
| McGuire.J@parl.gc.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Consituency Address: | 94 Central Street Summerside, Prince Edward Island C1N 3L3 |
|
10/08/2004 - letter from MP Joe McGuire to Gordon A. Watts. Mr. Gordon A. Watts Dear Mr. Watts: Thank you for your letter of August 29, 2004 regarding public access to national census records from 1906 onward. I was interested to read the position of your committee with respect to this issue, and can appreciated that the information compiled in these early censuses could be of great benefit to Canadians seeking information on their ancestors as well as to groups and communities seeking to understand their development. Please be assured that I have taken note of the facts you presented and will consider your views carefully. They will be of use to me should I have occasion to discuss access to census records with colleagues or within the House of Commons. Thank you again for taking the time to share this information with me. Yours sincerely, Joseph McGuire 08/29/2004 - letter sent to MP Joe McGuire from Gordon A. Watts 29 August 2004 Mr. Joe McGuire Dear Mr. McGuire 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 03/12/2001 - email from MP Joe McGuire to Ted Picard.
To: 'Ted Picard' Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 5:07 PM Subject: RE: census Dear Mr. Pickard, Thank you very much for your e-mail with regards to the release of Census information. On Tuesday, September 26, 2000, Mr. McGuire voted in favour MP Jason Kenney's Motion M-160, which states "That, in the opinion of this House, the government should take all necessary steps to release the 1911 census records once they have been deposited in the National Archives in 2003." When any issue is brought to our attention, all MPs first need to research the pros and cons before a position can be taken. In the end, Mr. McGuire could not see why he should deny requests for his support on this initiative. When our office learned that a motion would be voted on in the House of Commons, it presented Mr. McGuire with an opportunity to publicly voice his support. Mr. McGuire will consider carefully any future Bills presented in the House of Commons regarding the release to the Public of Post 1901 Census Records. I hope I have been able to address your concerns. Thank you again, for your correspondence. Kindest regards, April Robinson Special Assistant Joe McGuire, M.P. Egmont 807 Confederation Building Phone: (613) 992-9223 Fax: (613) 992-1974 e-mail: mcguij@parl.gc.ca ---------Original Message---------- From: Ted Picard To: Joe McGuire, MP Sent: Thursday, March 8, 2001 11:40 AM Subject: census Dear Sir: It has been estimated that there are some 7.5 million plus Canadians involved in Genealogical research. These citizens, in their quest for their past, for their Canadian heritage, depend heavily upon the information provided in Census reports. 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. In the past two years, many of those 7.5 million plus voters, including myself, have sent numerous letters and email 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 records after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census. I write to you to ask 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. Thank you. Sincerely yours Ted Picard Summerside PEI 04/10/2001 - letter from MP Joseph McGuire to Dorothy Farish. April 10, 2001, Ottawa Ms. Dorothy Farish Richmond, RR#1, PE Dear Ms. Farish: Thank you very much for your letter with regards to the release of Census information. On Tuesday, September 26, 2000, Mr. McGuire voted in favour MP Jason Kenney's Motion M-160, which states "That, in the opinion of this House, the government should take all necessary steps to release the 1911 census records once they have been deposited in the National Archives in 2003." When any issue is brought to our attention, all MP's first need to research the pros and cons before a position can be taken. In the end, Mr. McGuire could not see why he should deny requests for his support on this initiative. When our office learned that a motion would be voted on in the House of Commons, it presented Mr. McGuire with an opportunity to publicly voice his support. Mr. McGuire will consider carefully any future Bills presented in the House of Commons regarding the release to the Public of Post 1901 Census Records. I hope I have been able to address your concerns. Thank you again, for your correspondence. Kind regards, April Robinson Special Assistant 01/25/2001 - email from MP Joe McGuire to Muriel M. Davidson.
Thank you for your email. I would like to assure you that I will raise this issue again with Mr. McGuire. I will also watch for the Bill to be brought back to the House of Commons. As soon as I have more information on Mr. McGuire's position on this Bill I will let you know. Kindest regards, Rachel Sullivan Legislative Assistant to Joe McGuire, MP 01/24/2001 - email from Muriel M. Davidson to MP Joe McGuire.
Sent: January 24, 2001 8:01 PM To: McGuire.J@parl.gc.ca Subject: Welcome Back to House of Commons! To Joe McGuire, MP Hello Joe: Another Session begins on Jan. 29th, 2001 -- the televised happenings are very interesting and I definitely try to watch the Question/Answer periods. Sincerely hope you plan to keep that sparkling GOLD tick from last Session? If so, please send me an e-mail, if this is easier -- then I will forward to Gordon Watts to post on your page at http://globalgenealogy.com/census/index6.htm After tomorrow, the pages will be bilingual and provincial pages separated. I wonder which Atlantic province will be the first with all GOLD (I am formerly from Liverpool, Nova Scotia -- one never loses the Down Home feeling!) Senator Lorna Milne and Murray Calder, MP will be re-presenting the same Private Member's Bills, identical wording and new numbers. Will you SUPPORT Lorna and Murray again in this coming Parliamentary session? Due to a lack of census committee representative in Prince Edward Island, I will be contacting the other three Members of Parliament. Should there be any queries, do not hesitate to contact me. Looking forward to a letter or e-mail with YOUR signature, saying YES! Muriel M. Davidson Canada Census Committee Co-Chairman Brampton, Ontario 10/24/2000 - email from office of MP Joe McGuire to Adele J. Turner.
To: 'Adele J. Turner' Sent: October 24, 2000 2:00 PM Subject: RE: How do you plan to vote the Post 1901 Census issue? Ms. Turner, Thank you very much for your email. Sorry for the delayed response. With regards to the release of the Census information, on Tuesday,September 26, 2000, Mr. McGuire voted in favour MP Jason Kenney's Motion M-160, which states "That, in the opinion of this House, the government should take all necessary steps to release the 1911 census records once they have been deposited in the National Archives in 2003." Mr. McGuire is also in favour of Murray Calder's Bill. When any issue is brought to our attention, all MPs first need to research the pros and cons before a position can be taken. In the end, Mr. McGuire could not see why he should deny requests for his support on this initiative. When our office learned that a motion would be voted on in the House of Commons, it presented Mr. McGuire with an opportunity to publicly voice his support. I hope I have been able to address your concerns. Thank you again, for your correspondence. Kindest regards, Rachel Sullivan Legislative Assistant to Joe McGuire, MP (613) 992-9223
Ms. Christie, Thank you very much for your email. Your correspondence provides me with an opportunity to send you some information that you may be very interested in learning. Mr. McGuire is currently in the riding, however, I thought I could provide you with a quick response. With regards to the release of the Census information, on Tuesday, September 26, 2000, Mr. McGuire voted in favour MP Jason Kenney's Motion M-160, which states "That, in the opinion of this House, the government should take all necessary steps to release the 1911 census records once they have been deposited in the National Archives in 2003." When any issue is brought to our attention, all MPs first need to research the pros and cons before a position can be taken. In the end, Mr. McGuire could not see why he should deny requests for his support on this initiative. When our office learned that a motion would be voted on in the House of Commons, it presented Mr. McGuire with an opportunity to publicly voice his support. Rachel Sullivan Legislative Assistant to Joe McGuire, MP
Sent: July 29, 2000 7:15 PM To: McGuire.J@parl.gc.ca Subject: How do you plan to vote the Post 1901 Census issue? To Mr. Joe McGuire: As a voting Canadian, I would like to request that you, an elected MP that helps run our GREAT county, answer two questions......I would like to know how you will be voting on the release of the Post 1901 Census to the Canadian Archives after the 92 year hiatus (the next census hopefully to be released is the 1911 Census...unless StatsCan continues to spread the unsubstantiated rumour of "Privacy" and has it destroyed). It is important to all Family Historians, especially to your continuents, that it is preserved for future generations. So here are the two questions. When the voting hits the floor of the House of Commons in the next sitting..... Will you be FOR or AGAINST Murray Calder's Bill C484? And, will you be voting FOR or AGAINST Jason Kenney's Motion M-160? Kindly respond to these questions.....YES OR NO......so that your name will appear the Scoreboard of the Genealogy Census mailing list. So far, your name is showing as not having replied at all....as an elected MP, you do realize that you have a responsiblity to all Canadians to answer these questions. Just for your information, did you know that this is the most actively pursued hobby in the world and that there are presently over 7 million Canadians actively researching their family history many from your riding. I do not need a letter....an email will suffice with just YES or NO as your answer. Also, don't bother to advise me that you are forwarding my email "thank you for your letter I have forwarded it to Mr. Manley, etc"....It has already been done. I thank you in advance for responding to this important issue. Adele Turner North Vancouver, B. C.
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. |
|
|
