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TOWN HALL MEETINGS
WINNIPEG -- 23 JANUARY 2002

This page contains the presentation of Doreen M. McDonald to the Town Hall Meeting held in Winnipeg. Doreen attended the afternoon session of these meetings.
SUBMISSION TO THE WINNIPEG TOWN HALL MEETING
TO CONSIDER THE RELEASE OF INDIVIDUAL 1906 AND 1911
CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES


Mr. or Madam Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am pleased to be here today to make this presentation to you. It is my understanding that the framework of the first census was based on the gathering of background information of all the residents of Canada. That included such basic questions as age, sex, marital status, and occupation. The collection on our latest May 15, 2001 census grew to include a short 7 item questionnaire, up to the longer questionnaire which had an additional 52 questions.

The information gathered from these censuses was originally used to help plan the development of Canada when it was only a colony. Following Confederation in 1867, the population was counted to determine the representation by population for the purpose of voting in the Parliament of the day.

Since the first national census in 1871, a census has been taken every tenth year. The 1871 tradition was to gather information on the ancestral origin of all Canadians.

In order to assess the growth of agriculture a separate census of agriculture was taken every five years beginning in 1906; Also since 1956 and every five years a census of population has been taken.

It is interesting to note that following the collection of the 1871 data, it was published in 1873

I repeat: IT WAS PUBLISHED

Are we progressing today, or are we regressing??

Today, the information from past censuses has many possible uses. But only if access to those data are made available, otherwise the gathering of them was a waste of time and money. As a lifelong resident of Winnipeg and a taxpayer for the greater part of my 69 years, I am angered when I see my tax payments wasted.

My personal reason to access the information from the 1906 and 1911census is for genealogical research. I have no personal letters from my grandparents nor of those who came before them. My only language is English, whereas my ancestors spoke both high and low German.

  • What were their places of birth??
  • What country did they emmigrate from??
  • How did they cross the country after their embarkation??
  • Did they come directly to Manitoba??
  • How many of them were in their family group??
  • Did they stay with relatives until such time as they could build a home of their own??
  • Did they read and write a language other than their native tongue
  • Were they: Farmers?? Politicians?? Musicians?? Lawyers?? Military?? Clergy??
  • Were they: Medical staff?? Educationalists?? Publishers?? Druggists?? Merchants??


    • And so the questions go on and on.

    Would access to the census to answer some of these questions hurt my ancestors? Is their privacy compromised so many years after the data were gathered? I think not.

    To withhold those data is akin to burning books. Unthinkable!!

    I believe there is a Privacy Act which provides for the release of census material 92 years after the census was taken. That would mean the 1906 census should have been released in 1998; and the 1911 census would be due to be released next year. We should be planning its release now.

    I also think that my ancestors would be proud and happy to be able to furnish me with some of this information if they were alive today. Sadly, they are no longer living.

    I would hate to think that in a few generations from now my own descendants would want access to some of my own information and would find that it is withheld from them.

    My own plan is to create a family tree, following my roots from as far back as possible to include notes on as much as possible. This would include: birthplace, occupation, religion, education, health of all family members, including those who emmigrated to this great country. These are only the basic starting points - but what I consider pivotal points - to point me on the way to truly understanding my background and how my family has evolved.

    This I'm sure would mirror how this great country has evolved and is very important for all of us to know. You may know it better by the name of: TRUE PATRIOT LOVE

    It would be so nice to have information accessible to me from the 1906 and 1911 census. My father was born in Winnipeg in 1907, yet his older brother and sister were not born in this country. I would love to be able to trace the family's coming to this country. Alas, my hands are tied by Stats Canada.

    It is my view and opinion that: the individual 1906 and 1911 census questionnaires should be released to the public and I urge you to give this your favourable consideration.

    Thank you.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Doreen M. McDonald
    January 23, 2002





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