POST 1901 CENSUS PROJECT
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TOWN HALL MEETINGS |
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This page contains correspondence from James Barnaby, member of the Canada Census Committee, relating to the Town Hall Meeting held in Halifax. James attended both sessions of these meetings. From: James P. Barnaby To: Gordon A. WATTS Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 6:11 PM Subject: Jan, 7th, 2002 Hello Gordon: Just a short run down on today/night's meetings. I attended both....pretty well the same set up as you mentioned with presenters with their backs to the public.....at first the air conditioning was drowing out the first speaker so we all ask that it be turned off which helped. There were only five presenters in the afternoon.....two were from I believe the Dept.of Statistics for Nova Scotia and I also think one form the Federal Government. I didn't bother to get their names as I felt it was a set up having both presenting " against the census being released" and both working for Statistics Canada. The afternoon meeting was not well attended but again being in the afternoon many had to work. The evening one was a bit better as far as turn out...I would say 15 maybe 18......five presenters myself and one who was a Marine Historian from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, another was a Doctor of History (an elderly woman) very good, Leland who is in charge of NSroots. A young lady who works for the Halifax Memorial Library who was very good stressed the 1906 aspect...all in all good but quite honestly other then myself few touched on the individuality of the use of the census for genealogy research, historical research and did not show the 'human' nature of genealogy. The moderator asked some questions about confidentially as you suspected and the promise??? and whether people would be less likely to fill in census knowing that the information would be released in 92 years. Most said that present day data from the census was that - 'present' - 92 year old data was "history" The cost of the Town Hall Meeting was mentioned something like $264,000.00 which Leland said would have been put to better use in micro-filming the 1906 and 1911 census. Mention was made of how other countries, the United States and England handle the release of their census.... All in all it was a good meeting. I only wish that more had attended. The weather was not an aspect as although it was raining heavy in the morning by the afternoon (2:00 PM) it had cleared and even the evening (6:00 PM) was only a light mist. I think the majority of people are intimidated by the ' Academics ' or so called ' Qualified ' people that they are afraid to presenting - thinking that they have nothing to add or it may not hold weight. Well, if I can do it I think anyone can.....and I felt that what I had to offer was from a ground roots view point and that for the hundreds of us the same holds true. I am wondering how impartial this 'group' who is carrying out the Town Hall Meetings really are...after all they are being paid by the Government ( Statistics Canada ) and I don't know of too many who bite the hand that feeds them. I think Statistics Canada is just trying to wear us down....and in the end they will be the ones who look foolish and selfish and just control freaks..... Well, that is about all for now. James P. Barnaby |
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