| Name: | Janis G. Johnson |
| Political Party: | Conservative |
| Province: | Manitoba |
| Senatorial Division: | Winnipeg - Interlake |
| Telephone: | (613) 943-1430 |
| Fax: | (613) |
| Email: | johnsj@sen.parl.gc.ca |
| Website: |
| Address: | Senate of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A OA4 |
09/29/2001 - email to Senator Janis G. Johnson from Marg MacDonald.
Dear Ms. Johnson Thank you very much for your "YES" support regarding the release of the 1906 and subsequent Census records to the public. As a Canadian citizen, I strongly support the release of these documents after the required length of time. I have been researching my families' roots for many years. Without such records as the Census' being available for all to review, it makes the search very difficult, if not impossible. These particular census are especially vital to my research and I'm sure to many others, since huge numbers of our forefathers immigrated during this period. Once again than you for your efforts on our behalf, and I know that I speak not only for myself but for my colleagues as well. Sincerely, Marge MacDonald Maple Ridge, B.C. 09/22/2001 - email to Senator Janis G. Johnson from Lyn Duncan.
To: Janis G. Johnson, SEN: Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2001 2:12 PM Subject: Bill S-12, to release Post 1901 Census to Natnl. Archives Hon. Senator Janis G. Johnson I thank you for your 'yes' vote to release these very important documents. I am amazed at the number of Senators that are reportedly 'Undecided', "Non-committal' or worse yet ~ voted NO. These Census, as I'm sure you are aware, are crucial to our heritage of our Great Country, not just for one but for all of us. I thank you for your insight into the importance of these documents. Respectfully, Lyn Duncan, White Rock, BC 05/31/2000 - The following extract was taken from Hansard Records of Canada's Senate. Senator Janis Johnson speaks to Bill S-15, a Bill to amend the Statistics Act and the National Archives of Canada Act (census records). Debates of the Senate (Hansard) 2nd Session, 36th Parliament, Volume 138, Issue 60 Wednesday, May 31, 2000 The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker Statistics Act National Archives of Canada Act Bill to Amend-Second Reading-Debate Continued On the Order: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Milne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Chalifoux, for the second reading of Bill S-15, to amend the Statistics Act and the National Archives of Canada Act (census records).-(Honourable Senator Johnson). Hon. Janis Johnson: Honourable senators, I commend my colleague Senator Milne for her work on Bill S-15. I have looked at this issue carefully and am very much in favour of making the 1911 census available to historical and genealogical researchers. I also strongly support its release and am very concerned about any notion of destroying this data or locking it away on a permanent basis. There are many excellent reasons for releasing the1911 census once the standard 92-year limitation has expired. First, virtually all civilized nations retain census data and make it available to historical researchers once a reasonable time has elapsed, including even such privacy-focused and litigious countries as the United States, which released its 1910 census for research years ago. European nations, such as Iceland, have only released their census records for 1910. Indeed, Iceland has published them for the general record. I mention Iceland because it is a very genealogically oriented society. Second, because of the immeasurable historical value of such data, no civilized country would have such records destroyed or censored. Third, genealogically speaking, these records are of vital importance for people tracing their ancestry. Fourth, current generations of Canadians have a right to know their genealogical past, not only for reasons pertaining to family history but also for medical reasons. No Canadian should be deprived of this vital personal data that is inherently his or hers. Fifth, because any sensitivity of such data fades quickly with the passage of time and changing circumstances and with the change of generations, concerns about the privacy of the individuals who provided census data become unfounded after a reasonable time has lapsed. Whereas assurances given by the Canadian government with regard to privacy or other matters should be inviolable and sacrosanct, I do not feel the spirit of any assurances given in the 1906 or the 1911 legislation would be violated by opening the 1911 census. A careful reading of this legislation reveals that the intent of the framers was to allay contemporaneous concerns expressed by citizens of the day primarily with regard to financial information being leaked to "nosy" neighbours or tax assessors. The intention of those responsible was obviously to allay such fears and ensure privacy in that time and context. Failure to provide guidelines for future release has simply been the result of limited focus and oversight on the part of the framers. This is evident in the wording of the census guidelines. I refer honourable senators to such phrases as "written consent," obviously not an option 100 years later, being required for the release, and such clauses as, "An enumerator is not permitted to show his schedules to any other person..." or, "...if a fear is entertained by any person that they may be used for taxation..." etcetera. Virtually all data which might have been sensitive at the time, such as income, property, religion, race, has long since become a simple matter of record which is of use only in a historical, sociological or genealogical context and poses no threat or infringement on the living or the dead. In short, to withhold the 1911 census, on the grounds of narrow and pedantic interpretations of old legislation without due and appropriate consideration for the time context and the lack of specificity evident, would simply deprive present and future generations of Canadians of a valuable historical resource to which the citizens of virtually every other modern nation have access. A close friend of mine, Mr. Nelson Gerrard of Agborg, Manitoba, has worked for 25 years on historical and genealogical research. He has used extensively census records in Canada, Britain, the United States and Iceland and sees no possible reason why the release of data such as that contained in the 1911 census would raise any concern from anyone anywhere at this time. He tells me that the data is useful in a variety of ways. It is not particularly personal in the context of history and can have no significant adverse affect on anyone. Honourable senators, in the context of his current work in compiling a history of the Icelandic pioneer community in Manitoba's Interlake Region, the withholding of the 1911 census is a significant impediment which is not easily overcome. Almost all of those alive at that time are now deceased, even the youngest children, and in the absence of records such as a census, there is no one to speak for those generations and no documentation to show that they ever existed or played a part in the founding of this nation. From the perspective of a Canadian citizen who is well acquainted with the issues of privacy as well as the disciplines of history and genealogy, I strongly urge the Canadian government and the Senate to consider this matter in a comprehensive, common-sense context, recognizing the semantic inadequacy of that legislation which has hitherto proven an obstacle to the release of data to which every Canadian should obviously have the right of access. On motion of Senator DeWare, debate adjourned.
Greetings. You may be aware that in the past several years a great many Canadians have been seeking to regain public access to Historic Census Records, 92 years after collection, as allowed by Regulations attached to the Privacy Act. Public access to Census Records after 1901 is currently prevented because of misinterpreted legislation and faulty legal opinions from Justice Canada that cause Statistics Canada to withhold control of these records from the National Archivist. In November of 1999, then Industry Minister John Manley commissioned a panel of experts to study and make recommendations relating to public access to Historic Census Records. Their Report was submitted at the end of June 2000. It was finally made public, because of an Access to Information Request, on 15 December 2000. Current Industry Minister Brian Tobin, on releasing the Report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census, rejected the recommendations contained therein, stating that “further broad based consultation with all Canadians” was required. It is the considered opinion of this writer that Mr. Tobin has likely not even read the Report of the Expert Panel, and is taking his direction from Chief Statistician Dr. Ivan Fellegi, who opposes public access to these records. I urge each of you to read for yourself the findings of the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census Records. It is available in hard copy, or accessible on the Statistics Canada website at: http://www.statcan.ca/english/census96/finalrep.htm en français http://www.statcan.ca/francais/census96/finalrep_f.htm Briefly, the Expert Panel found that a guarantee of perpetual confidentiality was not intended to apply to the census. They felt that it had always been intended that census records would eventually become public and did not view any legislation deemed necessary to do so as breaking of a promise to respondents. The Report recommended allowing public access to all Census records, past, present and future, 92 years following collection. They advised caution only regarding any legislative steps that might be thought necessary to effect release of Census between 1921 and 2001. They suggested that any legislative change felt necessary be done in the National Archives Act rather than in the Statistics Act. This message is being sent to all Members of the Senate of Canada to ask for individual responses to a specific question regarding how you would vote on a Bill supporting public access to Historic Census Records. An example of such would be Bill S-12, presented to the Senate by the Honourable Lorna Milne. Bill S-12 has received second reading and has been referred to Committee. Bill C-312, identical to S-12, has been presented to the House of Commons by MP Murray Calder. The Question: “Would you, as a Member of the Senate of the Parliament of Canada, vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public, of Post 1901 Census Records, 92 years after they were recorded? (1911 census information available in 2003, 1921 in 2013, etc.)” A website dealing with Post 1901 Census has been posted at http://globalgenealogy.com/Census Among other things, it contains an explanation of the problem, petitions to download, links to various submissions to the Expert Panel, Bills and Motions relating to Historic Census, extracts from Hansard for the House of Commons and the Senate, and to columns written by myself that have been published in the Global Gazette -- an e-magazine published by Global Genealogy. The website also contains ‘Scoreboards’ showing the position of MPs and Senators relating to the above question. Your response (or lack thereof) to the question above will be recorded on the Senator’s Scoreboard located on this website. Should you wish to comment, or elaborate on your position, a correspondence log for each Senator is accessible from the Scoreboard. Correspondence to or from you that has been forwarded to me, will be recorded in this log. The Post 1901 Census web site is sponsored by The Global Gazette, an online magazine serving the genealogical and heritage community. A vast number of e-mails and calls from subscribers and web site visitors, clearly demonstrates that this issue is extremely important to them. I look forward to your early reply. Thank you. Sincerely, Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee |
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