POST 1901 CENSUS PROJECT
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TOWN HALL MEETINGS |
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This page contains correspondence from Lyn Winters, former RCMP and retired Investigator for the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada, relating to the Town Hall Meeting held in Ottawa. Lyn is also a member of the Canada Census Committee. Following his report is a copy of the presentation Lyn made to the afternoon meeting. From: Lyn Winters To: Gordon A.Watts Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 7:34 PM Subject: Town Hall Hello Gordon, The Town Hall session went well. Formally listed presenters were: 2:15 - 2:35 Gordon Taylor from British Isles Family History Group 2:35 - 2:55 Jeff Paul, Senator Milne's office 2:55 - 3:15 Lyn Winters 3:15 - 3:35 Carol Martin representing the Historical Society of Gatineau As there was about 20 minutes to spare, the Chairman Chris Baker, V/P of Environics, called for additional presenters. There were another five or six persons who came forward and made brief comments. The Town hall was set up with Baker seated at a table with a microphone in front of him. The presenter sat at a table facing Mr. Baker and addressed him. The audience were seated in back of the presenter, so that his/her back was to the audience. Two of the presenters commented upon this -- it made one feel a little uncomfortable. In my view the presenter should have been off to the side so that he could address both the moderator (Baker) and the audience. The moderator, Mr. Baker, remained seated at his table throughout and made notes while each presenter spoke. The rules were that there would be no questions from the audience and that Baker would ask several questions at the termination of each paper. I did not make a note of the five or six other presenters. Prior to the beginning of the session, Baker handed out copies of the "compromise solution", "An Option Regarding the Release of Census Recors". This is the proposal that if the legislation is changed, that it restrict researchers to one's own family. Baker asked each of the presenters for his views on this proposal. Each of us turned it down flat as a viable alternative. I thought Jeff's presentation went well and gave rise to prolonged applause after he wrapped up. He made one telling point, in my view, and that is that the tender document was based on the false premise that there was a promise of confidentiality given to the Canadian people starting with the 1906 census, whereas it has been clearly shown that there was no such promise made. A french speaking lady (I didn't get her name) approached me after the Town Hall and mentioned that she had done some translation work for you. She asked me if I would send you the text of my remarks. I will attach it to this e-mail. This evening's session (I was unable to attend) was to include Alison Hare from the Ottawa Branch OGS, Chad Gaffield, Professor, Patty MacGregor, affiliation unknown, and Murray Long. There were absolutely no contrary views expressed at the Town Hall and I would estimate there were around 50 persons there. If there is one thing I would change Gordon, it is the seating arrangement of the Forum. Perhaps Environics have set it up that way because they want to maintain strict control, but it did seem awkward for the presenter to sit facing the moderator and with his/her back to the audience. Lyn ON POST 1901 CENSUS RECORDS Friday, 14 December, 2001 INTRODUCTION MAY I BEGIN BY A QUICK BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. I AM A 73-YEAR OLD RETIRED MEMBER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, HAVING SERVED FOR OVER 35 YEARS WITH THAT ORGANIZATION. I THEN WORKED AS AN INVESTIGATOR WITH THE OFFICE OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER OF CANADA, A POSITION WHICH TOOK ME INTO MANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN OTTAWA, INCLUDING OUR NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND STATISTICS CANADA. I RETIRED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER IN 1994. I HAVE A MISSION IN MY RETIREMENT YEARS AND THAT IS TO COMPLETE A HISTORY OF FAMILIES OF BOTH OF MY PARENTS. I BEGAN THIS WORK WELL OVER 10 YEARS AGO AND IT REMAINS UNFINISHED. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE GREATEST SOURCE OF RELIABLE RECORDS OF MY FAMILY HAS BEEN THE CENSUS RECORDS OF CANADA AND THOSE OF THE U.S.A. THE MOST HELPFUL CENSUS FROM A GENEALOGICAL STANDPOINT WAS THE 1901 CENSUS OF CANADA WHERE I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND READ THE ACTUAL FORM ON MICROFILM COMPLETED BY THE CENSUS TAKER SHOWING THE FAMILY OF MY GRANDPARENTS. I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY LIVED, THE TYPE OF HOME, THEIR EXACT BIRTH DATE, RACIAL ORIGIN, AND OCCUPATION. WITH THIS DATA, I WAS ABLE TO BUILD A PROFILE OF THE FAMILY AND LEARN HOW THEY LIVED. IT CAME AS A GREAT SHOCK TO ME TO LEARN THAT THIS MIGHT WELL BE THE LAST CENSUS OF CANADA I WOULD SEE, AS STATISTICS CANADA HAD PLACED A HARD-LINE INTERPRETATION ON THE CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS OF THEIR ACT WHICH THEY FELT PREVENTED THEM FROM RELEASING CENSUS RECORDS BEYOND THE YEAR 1901 TO OUR NATIONAL ARCHIVES. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE U.S.A. CONTINUES TO RELEASE THEIR CENSUS RECORDS WITH GREAT FANFARE, EVERY TEN YEARS. IT SEEMS IRONIC THAT I CAN LOCATE RECORDS OF MY FATHER AND MOTHER'S FAMILIES WHO MOVED TO THE ‘BOSTON STATES' DATING BACK TO THE 1920'S WHILE I AM TO BE REFUSED THE RIGHT TO SEE SIMILAR RECORDS OF MY ANCESTORS IN CANADA BEYOND THE YEAR 1901. IN RESPONSE TO REPEATED REQUESTS TO RELEASE POST 1901 CENSUS RECORDS, STATISTICS CANADA ADOPTED THE THEME THAT BACK IN THE DAYS OF SIR WILFRED LAURIER, THE GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN ASSURANCE TO CANADIANS THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THEM IN CENSUS RECORDS WOULD BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE IN PERPETUITY. DESPITE MANY REQUESTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT PRODUCE A RECORD OF SUCH A PROMISE, THEY HAVE FAILED TO DO SO. IN NOVEMBER 1999, WE IN THE GENEALOGICAL COMMUNITY LEARNED WITH SOME APPREHENSION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD APPOINTED AN EXPERT PANEL OF EMINENT PROFESSIONAL CANADIANS TO DELVE INTO THE VIEWS OF CANADIANS ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION HELD IN HISTORIC CENSUS RECORDS. OUR CONCERNS WERE PUT TO REST WHEN THE EXPERT PANEL, AFTER EXAMINING ALL ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE, RECOMMENDED THE IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE OF ALL CENSUS RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE YEARS 1906, 1911 AND 1916. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DETERMINE WHAT STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO RELEASE ALL SUBSEQUENT CENSUS RECORDS. THE EXPERT PANEL, IN THEIR REPORT OF JUNE 2000, MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW OF ALL LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC DEBATES PERTAINING TO CENSUS RECORDS, FAILED TO REVEAL ANY INDICATION OF A GUARANTEE OF PERPETUAL CONFIDENTIALITY. THERE WAS AN AIR OF JUBILATION IN THE GENEALOGICAL COMMUNITY WHEN THEY READ THIS REPORT. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE HAD A CHANGE OF MINISTERS, BUT ALAS, THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE CONTRARY VIEWS HELD BY STATISTICS CANADA. THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO PROMOTE THE THEME, OR SHOULD I SAY THE "SPIN" THAT BACK IN THE DAYS OF LAURIER, CANADIANS WERE GIVEN A PROMISE THAT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CENSUS RECORDS WOULD BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE IN PERPETUITY. AS RECENTLY AS SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WHEN APPEARING BEFORE THE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DR. IVAN FELLEGI, OUR CHIEF STATISTICIAN, REPEATED THIS CLAIM OF UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE OF CONFIDENTIALITY, SUGGESTING THAT THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO RELEASE CENSUS RECORDS BEYOND THE YEAR 1901 WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE INTEGRITY OF CANADA'S STATISTICAL SYSTEM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT DR. FELLEGI AND HIS STATISTICIANS HAVE THEIR BLINKERS ON – THEY CANNOT OR WILL NOT SEE BEYOND THE NARROW HALLOWED HALLS OF STATISTICS CANADA. THEY LIVE IN DEATHLY FEAR THAT THE CANADIAN PUBLIC WILL SOMEHOW MYSTERIOUSLY QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR INSTITUTION AND REFUSE TO VOLUNTARILY COOPERATE IN THE PROVISION OF RELIABLE PRIVATE INFORMATION. THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE OF THE EXPERT PANEL CHOSEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO EXAMINE THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE THOUSANDS OF LETTERS AND E-MAILS FROM ORDINARY CANADIANS. THEY APPARENTLY IGNORE A RECENT LEGAL OPINION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHICH INDICATES THERE IS NO LEGAL BASIS TO WITHHOLD TRANSFER OF CENSUS RECORDS TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. THEY ARE ALSO IGNORING THE PETITION FROM OVER 40,000 MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN PUBLIC TO PROCEED WITH THE RELEASE OF THESE RECORDS. THE ACTIONS OF STATISTICS CANADA IN PERPETUATING THE "SPIN" OF AN UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE OF CONFIDENTIALITY GIVEN IN 1906 MAY WELL SERVE TO HARM THE VERY INTEGRITY OF THE INSTITUTION THAT DR. FELLEGI SEEKS TO PROTECT. MAY I SUGGEST TO YOU HERE TODAY THAT THIS VERY FORUM IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY. THE PUBLIC HAS ALREADY SPOKEN THROUGH THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT OF THE EXPERT PANEL AND THROUGH THE VOLUME OF SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS, LETTERS AND E-MAILS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE LATER TO BE SUBJECTED TO ANOTHER FOCUS GROUP WHERE THE PLAYERS WILL BE HAND PICKED AND THE QUESTIONS CLEVERLY DESIGNED TO PRODUCE THE RESPONSES WHICH THE STATISTICIANS WISH TO HEAR. MY MESSAGE TO THE MINISTER AND TO DR. FELLEGI IS THAT IF THEY TRULY WISH TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF STATISTICS CANADA, THEY REFRAIN FROM UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS AND MOVE AHEAD WITH THE SMOOTH FLOW OF CENSUS DATA TO OUR NATIONAL ARCHIVES WHERE IT MAY BE SEEN BY ORDINARY CANADIANS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF APPEARING BEFORE YOU TODAY. L. H. (LYN) WINTERS KANATA, ONTARIO DECEMBER 14, 2001. |
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