The following is an extract of the text of a News Release made by the Industry Minister, the Honourable Allan Rock, on Friday 24 January 2003.

OTTAWA, January 24, 2003 -- Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Statistics Canada and Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for the National Archives of Canada today announced the immediate release of the 1906 census records.

The 1906 Census was a special census that was conducted in just Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. It collected only limited "tombstone" information such as name, address, age, sex, marital status and origin.

The 1906 Census documented the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who settled the Prairies at the start of the 1900s.

The 1906 census records have not been previously released because of a lack of clarity in the legislation under which that census was taken. Following extensive review of the issue, the Government has decided to release this special census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

"I am pleased to have resolved this very complex issue and appreciate the numerous suggestions I have received from interested parties including genealogists, historians and Members of Parliament", said Minister Rock. "The 1906 census records are an invaluable source of information for anyone doing research into the families and communities of the Prairie provinces."

"These files contain information on years that were particularly important on the history of western provinces and on the evolution of a country that was to become a refuge for people from all around the world," said Minister Copps. "It contains data useful to all who are interested by Canadian history and by the genealogy of the great Canadian family."

"I am particularly pleased that Allan Rock has heard the arguments of genealogists and historians, and has released the 1906 census on the same basis as the 1901 census" noted Senator Lorna Milne. "As a result, Canadians will continue to have unrestricted access to this fundamental part of Canadian history."

For future releases of census records, the Government has determined that there is a need to clarify the Statistics Act. As a result, the Government will propose legislation to resolve this issue, and to allow access to subsequent census records while balancing concerns for the protection of personal information.

For information on how to access the 1906 census records, contact the National Archives of Canada reference desk at (613) 992-3884 or at 1-866-578-7777. The records can be viewed on line on the National Archives Web site at www.archives.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Selena Beattie
Office of Allan Rock
Minister of Industry
(613) 995-0001

Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Office of Sheila Copps
Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788

Media Relations
Statistics Canada
(613) 951-4636

Ce communiqué est aussi disponible en français.