| Name: | Ms. Beth Phinney |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Hamilton Mountain |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Telephone: | (613) 995-9389 |
| Fax: | (613) 992-7802 |
| Email: | phinney.b@parl.gc.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 25 Redmond Drive Unit 5 Hamilton, Ontario L8W 3K7 |
10/07/2002 - email to MP Beth Phinney from Gordon A. Watts.
To: MP Phinney, Beth Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:44 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census legislation Dear Ms. Phinney 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 09/20/2002 - email to MP Beth Phinney from Frank McKerry.
To: Beth Phinney, MP Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 2:48 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census Mr. Beth Phinneyi, M.P. Hamilton Mountain: It is noted on the Post 1901 web site that you are on the fence (undecided) on how you are going to vote for this Bill when it comes back to the floor of the House. Have you contacted any of your constituents on this matter ? The people who elected you to represent them in the House ? Many of your constituents are eagerly awaiting the release of the 1906 and 1911 Census and are trying to get family information to complete their family tree and ancestry links. I am not one of your constituents, but I am doing research for family in your riding and your YES vote will assist me in my search. Would you please change you Undecided mark to a YES vote on the 1906 and the 1911 Census release to the Archives Canada ? Respectfully M. Frank McKERRY, C.D. Vernon, B.C. 12/18/2001 - email to MP Beth Phinney from Lynn Winstanley.
To: Phinney.B@parl.gc.ca Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 5:58 PM Subject: Census Issue Dear Ms. Phinney; As a citizen of the "NEW CITY OF GREATER HAMILTON" living in Binbrook, I am disappointed to see that you are opposed to the issue of the 1901. Please help those like myself who spend countless hours in library's and on the Internet searching for any shred of confirmation of our heritage. Census records are so important to proving our lineage, and leaving the legacy of it for future generations. How anyone could be against it, or why it's release has been delayed, is beyond me? It's our heritage, and past the time that it should have been made available. Thank you reading this message. I would appreciate a reply. Regards, Lynn Winstanley 04/13/2001 - email from MP Beth Phinney to Linda Squires Vaillancourt and Jane Mosher Page. From: "Phinney, Beth - Assistant 1" To: Jane Mosher Page Sent: March 13, 2001 1:26 PM Subject: Re: Census Dear Ms. Page, We would appreciate if you could provide us with your full mailing address, as Ms. Phinney wishes to provide a proper response to your inquiry. Many thanks, Stephen Sampson Legislative Assistant to Beth Phinney, MP (Hamilton Mountain) Tel: (613) 995-9389 Fax: (613) 992-7802 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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