| Name: | Mr. Paul Macklin |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Northumberland |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Telephone: | (613) 992-8585 |
| Fax: | (613) 995-7536 |
| Email: | Macklin.P@parl.gc.ca |
| Website: | http://www.paulmacklin.com |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 1005 William Street Suite 201 Cobourg, Ontario K9A 5J4 29 Quinte Street Trenton, Ontario K8V 3S7 |
|
04-11-2005 - email to MP Paul Macklin from James S. Gilchrist. Subject: Bill S-18 Census Dear Mr. Paul Macklin: I am writing to you about the release of the post 1901 Census Bill S-18 which I hope will soon pass the third reading in the Senate and be returned to Parliament soon enough to not be put over for the summer recess. I am an amateur Family history searcher and genealogist and writer. My book on the Marchmont Distributing Home, Belleville Ontario, was self-published but printed by the Epic Press, May 2003. To date I have sold over 500 copies. However, I write you mainly as a researcher and with a concern for access to Historic Census information which is so important to family historians and many others. As it stands now I understand access is suppose to be possible after 92 years and we have not as yet the information made available to the public. This issue has been debated at great length and for some time now and I would hope the debating would soon end and the Bill be passed. I write seeking your support for the passing of this Bill. Sincere thanks. James S. Gilchrist.
Dear Ms. Davidson, I write to you today regarding an announcement by the Honourable Allan Rock, Minister of Industry. The Minister today announced that the 1906 census records would be released, so that researchers and historians may have the ability to give more detailed analysis of this very interesting period in Canadian history. I wish to compliment you on your consistent efforts on behalf of those who wish to have access to these records. The actions of myself, and others with similar interests, have undoubtedly made significant contributions to today's announcement. Thank you for the opportunity to appraise you of these developments, and please feel free to contact me with any further questions or comments. Sincerely Paul Macklin 01/13/2003 - letter from MP Paul Macklin to Muriel M.Davidson.
Ms. Muriel M. Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 25 Crestview Avenue Brampton, Ontario L6W 2R8 Dear Ms. Davidson Thank you for your correspondence of January 10, 2002, (?3) regarding a possible announcement on the release of census records. As per my past correspondence to you, I remain supportive of a resolution to this issue that takes into account the valid concerns of all sides. This being said, I have not seen any legislation on this matter, and as such, it would be imprudent to commit myself to either supporting or not supporting a measure that I am unaware of. Thank you for your continuing interest in this matter, and please feel free to contact me with any further questions or comments. Sincerely, Paul Macklin 11/29/2002 - letter from MP Paul Macklin to Muriel M. Davidson.
Ms. Muriel M. Davidson, Co-Chair Canada Census Committee 25 Crestview Avenue Brampton, Ontario L6W 2R8 Dear Ms. Davidson Thank you for your Email of November 21 concerning access to historical census records. Over the past few months, 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. I am pleased to inform you that 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 would like to thank you for taking the time to write to me on this matter and wish you the best of luck in your future genealogical research. Sincerely, Paul Macklin 10/07/2002 - email to MP Paul Macklin from Gordon A. Watts.
To: MP Macklin, Paul Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:44 AM Subject: Post 1901 Census legislation Dear Mr. Macklin 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 Paul Macklin from Frank McKerry.
To: Paul Macklin, MP Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 2:48 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census Mr. Paul Macklin, M.P.Northumberland: 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. 06/26/2002 - email from MP Paul Macklin to Vicki Moorhead.
To: Vicki Moorhead Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 11:12 AM Subject: re Ms. Moorhead, Thank you for your correspondence regarding Bill S-12. So as to provide you with the most recent and detailed information available on this matter, I have taken the Liberty to forwarding your correspondence to Hon. Allan Rock, Minister of Industry. Thank you again for your correspondence, and please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions or comments. Sincerely, Paul Macklin Member of Parliament Northumberland 11/20/2001 - email from MP Paul Macklin to Gordon A. Watts.
To: 'Gordon A. Watts' Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 10:40 AM Subject: RE: Please make Bill C-312 votable. Thank you for your communication regarding the proposed release of post-1901 census records. The proposed release of individual records of census’ taken after 1901 is an issue which is inspiring many varying opinions across many sectors of society. As such, this issue requires much reflection and consultation before engaging in what may otherwise be rash measures. As a government, we recognise the complexity of the issues raised in the proposed release of the post 1901 records. Issues of fundamental personal privacy, and the responsibility of the state to maintain the relationship of trust that has been built up with the population over the past centuries, must be addressed in a delicate manner. Due to these concerns, and a desire to make a decision that is both consistent with government precedent, principled, and taking into account the very legitimate desire of many to derive information from historical census records, I am fully supportive of the decision of the Minister of Industry to continue hearing the views of Canadians before any decision is made. I thank you for your ongoing interest in this matter, and please do not hesitate to contact me in Ottawa with any further concerns. Sincerely, Paul Macklin Member of Parliament Northumberland -----Original Message----- From: Gordon A. Watts [mailto:gordon_watts@telus.net] Sent: November 16, 2001 2:27 AM To: Macklin.P@parl.gc.ca Subject: Please make Bill C-312 votable. Mr. Paul Macklin - Member Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Dear Sir: I write to you at this time in your capacity as a member of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs to request that you lend your support in making Murray Calder's Bill C-312 votable in the House of Commons. Regaining public access to Historical Census Records, following a reasonable period of closure, is very important to a great many Canadians. Without access to these records many may never know the origin of their ancestors. Many others, British Home Children and their descendents for example, seek to be reunited with the families from which they have been isolated by past government policies. To date, in excess of 40,000 signatures supporting access have been received on submissions to the Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records, email and letters to MPs, Ministers and Senators, and petitions to the House of Commons and the Senate. For whatever their reasons, it seems obvious that the current government has no intention of bringing down their own Bill to permit the access so vital to genealogical and historical research. Permitting Bill C-312 to be votable would allow a full and free discussion of this issue in the House of Commons. The MP's Scoreboard on the Post 1901 Census Project website (at the URL following my signature) shows you as having given a non-committal response to questions regarding your support, or otherwise, for a Bill to regain public access to Historical Census records. We ask at this time for your support in making Bill S-12 votable. Do not allow this important Bill to be defeated without at least a chance of success. Thank you. Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 11/15/2001 - email to MP Paul Macklin from Gordon Blanchard.
To: Macklin.P@parl.gc.ca Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 9:57 PM Subject: Bill C-312 Dear Mr. Macklin: I am writing to ask for your support in making Bill C-312 votable. I would like to stress the importance of having the Canada Census information available to me and others in doing my family tree. I use the U.S. Census information on a regular basis and find it so helpfull. Thanks for your consideration. Gordon Blanchard, Alberta. 07/13/2001 - email to MP Paul Macklin from Gordon A. Watts.
To: Macklin.P@parl.gc.ca ; Tobin.B@parl.gc.ca Cc: Muriel M. DAVIDSON Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 12:04 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census - Your reply to Muriel M. Davidson Paul Macklin Member of Parliament Northumberland Sir; On 15 June 2001 you wrote a letter to Mrs. Muriel M. Davidson (received 12 July 2001), the text of which I copy below. Your letter was in response to one sent 12 April 2001 by Mrs. Davidson, seeking your position on whether you support, or do not support, public access to Historic Census records 92 years following collection. Such access is allowed by Regulations attached to the Privacy Act, but is currently prohibited by a policy decision of Statistics Canada. I must say that your response did little to clarify that position. Your statement ".......I am fully supportive of the decision of the Minister of Industry to continue hearing the views of Canadians before any decision is made." leaves it up in the air as to whether you support continuing hearings because you support public access to these records, or because you do not support it. Like so many messages I have seen from many Members of Parliament on this, and other issues, you have given a response that does not answer the question you were asked. If, as you state, you support the decision of Mr. Tobin "to continue hearing the views of Canadians before any decision is made" perhaps you would be kind enough to inform me where, when, and by whom such hearings will be held. Mr. Tobin, in rejecting the Report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census Records, issued a News Release (15 December 2000) stating that ".... further broad based consultation with all Canadians is needed. This consultation will take place as part of the already announced administrative and legislative review of the Access to Information and the Privacy Acts." On 26 March 2001 I participated in roundtable discussions conducted under the auspices of the Access to Information Act Review Task Force, a body which Mr. Tobin indicated would be involved in the "further broad based consultation with all Canadians". Following the roundtable discussions, observing members of the ATIA Review Task Force informed those of us whose primary concern was public access to Historic Census Records not to expect much to be said about Census in their Final Report, due in the fall of 2001. We were advised that a review of, and recommendations relating to, public access to Historic Census Records was not a part of their mandate, and that they had never been advised that this should be considered by them. Mr. Macklin, would you not think that a body charged, by a Minister of the Federal Government, with conducting "broad based discussions with all Canadians" on any given subject, should be informed that they are being so charged? I have searched for, but have been unable to find, any reference to a similar government review of the Privacy Act. The appearance is that Mr. Tobin has been less than truthful in stating "This consultation will take place as part of the already announced administrative and legislative review of the Access to Information and the Privacy Acts." Since 26 March 2001 I have sent to Mr. Tobin a number of communications by email, fax, and Canada Post requesting clarification of the "further broad based discussions to be held by all Canadians". To date, Mr. Tobin has refused to respond to my questions, or even to have the courtesy of acknowledging receipt of them. He has similarly failed to respond to questions on the same subject sent him in May 2001 by MP Murray Calder. I would ask again if you have knowledge of where, when, and by whom any such discussions will take place. In your letter to Mrs. Davidson you make reference to a desire to make "a decision that is ... consistent with government precedent". The National Archives of Canada currently hold copies of all surviving Censuses for what was to become Canada, from the first Census held in 1666 by Jean Talon, Intendent of New France, up to and including the Census of Canada for 1901. 235 years of Census Records that are available to the Public for purposes of research. Would you not consider that sufficient precedent? Genealogists and Historians are not seeking to obtain something new and previously unheard of. We seek only to regain that which we have had in the past, and are currently denied because of mis-interpreted legislation from 1905 and 1918, and faulty legal opinions given Statistics Canada by the Department of Justice. I would ask once again for your personal position (not that of the government or the Liberal party) regarding public access to Historic Census Records, 92 years following collection, as permitted under Regulations attached to the Privacy Act. Would you vote for, or against, a Bill intended to regain public access to Historic Census Records? As examples of such Bills I would refer you again to Bill S-12, a PMB submitted by Senator Lorna Milne in the Senate, and an identical Bill, C-312 presented to the House of Commons by MP Murray Calder. S-12 has had second reading and was referred to Committee. C-312 has had first reading and is waiting to be drawn in the PMB lottery. MP Mac Harb has also presented a PMB to the House dealing with this issue. Your response (or lack thereof) will be made available to your constituents by inclusion in your Correspondence Log on the Post 1901 Census Project website at the URL located below my signature. If you have not already done so, I would urge you to read the Report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census Records. I would welcome your comments on this document. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I look forward to your early reply. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 1455 Delia Drive Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2V9 06/15/2001 - email from MP Paul Macklin to Muriel M. Davidson.
Ms. Muriel M. Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 25 Crestview Avenue Brampton, Ontario L6W 2R8 Dear Mrs. Davidson, Thank you for your communication of April 12, 2001 regarding the proposed release of post-1901 census records. I regret the delay in my response. The proposed release of individual records of censuses taken after 1901 is an issue which is inspiring many varying opinions across many sectors of society. As such, this issue requires much reflection and consultation before engaging in what may otherwise be rash measures. As a government, we recognize the complexity of the issues raised in the proposed release of the post 1901 records. Issues of fundamental personal privacy, and the responsibility of the state to maintain the relationship of trust that has been built up with the population over the past centuries, must be addressed in a delicate manner. Due to these concerns, and a desire to make a decision that is both consistent with government precedent, principles, and taking into account the very legitimate desire of many to derive information from historical census records, I am fully supportive of the decision of the Minister of Industry to continue hearing the views of Canadians before any decision is made. I thank you for your ongoing interest in this matter, and please do not hesitate to contact me in Ottawa with any further concerns. Sincerely, Paul Macklin Member of Parliament Northumberland 04/13/2001 - email from office of MP Paul Macklin to Muriel M. Davidson. From: Macklin, Paul - M.P. To: Muriel M. Davidson Sent: Friday, April 13, 2001 7:19 PM Subject: RE: Happy Easter Wishes Dear Ms. Davidson: Thank you very much for your email concerning census records and their publication. Please be advised that Mr. Macklin will be writing to you immediately following the Easter break regarding this important issue. Sincerely, Ryan O'Grady Executive Assistant Paul Macklin MP Northumberland 04/12/2001 - email to MP Paul Macklin from Muriel M. Davidson. From: Muriel M. Davidson To: Macklin, Paul - M.P. Sent: 4/12/01 9:29 PM Subject: Happy Easter Wishes Dear Mr. Paul Macklin:- It must be enjoyable, having time away from Ottawa to spend with family and your constituents! As you have never replied to date, it is hoped you will find time to answer this memo - we would like to hear from all in Ottawa. When you are talking to various ones who voted you into your present status as a Member of Parliament, would you ask them one or more questions, please:- Do your CONSTITUENTS wish to have the Post-1901 census records released for family research? Do your CONSTITUENTS believe you should SUPPORT Senator Lorna Milne's Bill S-12 and Murray Calder's Bill C-312? If so, would you vote as your constituents suggest? Or must you follow what you are told to do on Party Caucus decision? WE wish this important issue would allow a FREE vote. Your name and personal message board appears on the following site: We would dearly love to see more GOLD colour for a wonderful province! In case you have not had time to listen or read wording of S-12 and C-312, I am forwarding it - identical wording:- You may reply to me by e-mail -- in that way Gordon Watts will post your reply to your personal message board. Thanking you in advance, Muriel M. Davidson Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Brampton, ON 11/27/2000 - Mr. Paul Macklin was elected to the House of Commons 27 November 2000. |
|
|
