| Name: | The Hon. Anne McLellan |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Edmonton Center |
| Province: | Alberta |
| Telephone: | (613) 992-4524 |
| Fax: | (613) 996-4516 |
| McLellan.A@parl.gc.ca or Barbara.Stirling@annemclellan.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 12304-107 Ave Edmonton, Alberta T5M 1Z1 |
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11/24/2004 - email from office of MP Anne McLellan to Freda Stewart. From: Norma Spicer Dear Ms. Stewart, Thank you for your recent email message. I have forwarded a copy of your message to Ms. McLellan so that she may respond directly to your message. Again, thank you for taking the time to bring your concerns to Ms. McLellan's attention. Sincerely, Norma Spicer 08/30/2004 - letter from Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan to Muriel M. Davidson. Aug 30, 2004 Ms. Muriel M. Davidson Dear Ms. Davidson:- Thank you for your correspondence of April 5, 2004, concerning the availability of the 1911 census data, and for the congratulatory remarks. I apologize for the delay in responding. The government of Canada is considering ways to strike a balance between the privacy rights of Canadians and the needs of historians and genealogists to have access to historical census data, including the 1911 census records. As you will know, this is a challenging area, but we remain committed to making progress. Since the issue you raise falls within the purview of my colleague the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of Industry, I have taken the liberty of forwarding your correspondence to him for his information and consideration. Thank you again for taking the time to write. Yours sincerely, A. Anne McLellan c.c.: The Honourable David Emerson, P.C., M.P. Minister of Industry 08/29/2004 - letter sent to MP Anne McLellan from Gordon A. Watts 29 August 2004 Ms. Anne McLellan Dear Ms. McLellan 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 02/04/2003 - email from office of MP Anne McLellan to Muriel M. Davidson.
To: "'Muriel M. Davidson'" Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 4:47 PM Subject: RE: An Announcement on January 20, 2003! Dear Ms. Davidson: Thank you for your email message concerning the census release. I will forward a copy of your message to Ms. McLellan so that she is aware of your comments. Again, thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to Ms. McLellan's attention. Sincerely, Barbara Stirling Member's Assistant 10/07/2002 - email to MP Anne McLellan from Gordon A. Watts.
To: MP McLellan, Anne Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:44 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census legislation Dear Ms. McLellan 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 08/23/2002 - letter from Minister of Health Anne McLellan to Muriel M. Davidson.
Ms. Muriel Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Brampton, Ontario Dear Ms. Davidson: Thank you for your e-mail message dated July 15, 2002, regarding the 1906 and 1911 census records. I appreciated your writing to me about this matter. I have forwarded a copy of your letter to my colleague, the Honourable Allan Rock, the Minister of Industry, under whose jurisdiction this matter falls, with the request that he review your message and respond directly to you. I am sure that Minister Rock will respond to you at the earliest opportunity. Again, thank you for writing to me about this matter. Yours sincerely, A. Anne McLellan 08/09/2002 - email from office of MP Anne McLellan to Muriel M. Davidson.
To: "'Muriel M. Davidson '" Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 5:02 PM Subject: RE: Surprise Me!!! Send A Positive Reply!!! Dear Ms. Davidson, On behalf of Ms. McLellan I would like to thank you for your recent email message. I apologize for the delay in responding. I have forwarded your email message to Ms. McLellan's attention. Should you wish to receive a written response from Ms. McLellan please provide your postal address. You are welcome to forward your address to this email account or by contacting me in Ms. McLellan's constituency office at (780) 495-3122. Again, thank you for bringing this matter to Ms. McLellan's attention. Sincerely, Barbara Stirling Minister's Assistant -----Original Message----- From: Muriel M. Davidson To: McLellan.A@parl.gc.ca Sent: 7/15/02 11:34 PM Subject: Surprise Me!!! Send A Positive Reply!!! Your history of non-reply goes back a long way, and possibly I should explain about to whom you should reply. Many Members of Parliament reply only to constituents -- but as Co-Chair of the Canada Census Committee, I contact MPs from coast-to-coast-to-coast. My Member of Parliament has already said he is supportive -- he replied to me! My relatives in Alberta desire the release of the 1906 and 1911 census records -- have you consulted constituents? The following from The Toronto Star might assist your decision http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~downhome/1906census.html I will accept a reply from your assistant -- if dictated by you. Muriel M. Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 04/26/2002 - email from office of MP Anne McLellan to Gordon A. Watts.
To: gordon_watts@telus.net Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 10:14 AM Subject: 1901 Census Mr. Watts; Thank you for your email message concerning census records. I have forwarded your message to Ms. McLellan for her information. Barbara Stirling Members Assistant 09/26/2001 - email from office of MP Anne McLellan to Frank McKerry.
To: Frank McKerry Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 4:06 PM Subject: Fw: Release of Census Mr. McKerry, Thank you for your email message. I will pass your comments on to Ms. McLellan. Again, thank you for making her aware of your concerns. Barbara Stirling Constituency Assistant 09/24/2001 - email to MP Anne McLellan from Frank McKerry.
To: Anne McLellan, MP: Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 10:58 PM Subject: Release of Census Hon. Ann McLELLAN, M.P. Edmonton West Hon. Member, I am not one of your constituents, but when you vote it will affect me also. It is noted that you are undecided on how you are going to vote on the Bill to Release the Census to Archives Canada, Many thousands of families , many of them your constituents, are trying to trace ancestors who pioneered this great country Canada. Without these Census we cannot bring closure to our families. We urge you to please vote YES to release the Census to Archives Canada. Respectfully Frank McKerry Vernon, BC 12/03/1999 - letter from MP Anne McLellan to Muriel M. Davidson.
Ottawa, Canada K1A 0T6 25-B, R.H. Coats Building Tunney's Pasture December 3, 1999 Ms Muriel M. Davidson 25 Crestview Avenue Brampton, Ontario L6W 2R8 Dear Ms. Davidson Your letter of September 1, 1999, to the Honourable Anne McLellan, on the subject of releasing Post-1901 census records to the National Archives has been passed to Statistics Canada for response. Therre has been considerable public debate and interest on the part of genealogists, historians and archivists who had expected that the 1911 census records would be publicly availabel in 2001, 92 years after the taking of the census. Recognizing the importance of historical research but also taking into account the privacy concerns of Canadians, the Honourable John Manley, Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada, recently announced the creation of an Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records. This Panel will provide independent, expert advice on the legal, privacy and archival implication of releasing historical census records. The Expert Panel has been asked to recommend to the Minister, by May 31, 2000, an approach which balance the need to protect personal privacy with the demands for access to historical census records. It will: * examine the lelments of the difference of opinions between Canadians, who would seek to maintain the protection of personal information and those who woul like to examine personal or community histories; * determine what options exist to provide access to historical census records. Over the next few months, the Panel will review all relevant documents received to date, as well as meet with key stakeholders to get their views. the Panel will also accept commentaries that cover areas of concern not previously submitted. I have been asked to serv as the Panel's Secretary and should you haveany additional comments that you would like the Panel to consider, please send them to me, by mail or electronically, at the addreses given below. A copy of the news release announcing the Panel and its terms of reference is enclosed and is also available on Statistics Canada's website at www.statcan.ca. Sincerely, Dr. Pamel White 25th Floor, R.H. Coats Building Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6 (613) 951-3255 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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