03/23/2005 - Senator Donald H. Oliver was previously shown here as being supportive of public access of Historic Census records, 92 years after collection. On 23 March 2005 however, during Third Reading debate of Bill S-18, he voted in favour of an amendment that would have the effect of preventing all public access to any records of Census from 1918 to 2005. On that basis, he has had his Gold Tick removed, and has been awarded a Red X of Opposition. Should he feel this is not representative of his position we would be happy to change it. All he need do is contact us to advise what his true position is. GAW

April 3, 2003

Ms. Juanita MacDonald
Whycocomagh, NS

Dear Ms. MacDonald,

I would first like to thankyou for your interest in this matter. Census data is important and siensitive information in any country and I can certainly appreciate how important this data is to any researcher or any individual who is exploring his or her family history.

I am in support of the release of any information that is deemed appropriate by the proper authorities. I would support the decision to release the post 1901 census data from Nova Scotia so tha they can be available for public scritiny, however, I also recognize the sensitivity of the data that is found within these censuses that may delay this decision making process.

I, along with other concerned Nova Scotians like yourself, await with anticipation the verdict and am prepared if needed, to help facilitate and hasten such a decision.

Yours truly,

Senator Donald H. Oliver, Q.C.

From: "joseph macdonald"
To: Donald Oliver, Senator
Sent: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 11:39:18 -0400
Subject: Seeking your support on the release of Post 1901 censuses

Dear Hon. Donald H. Oliver,

As a fellow Nova Scotian, I am requesting your support for the release of the Post 1901 censuses. Apparently the Canada-Census-Campaign scoreboard on the Senators of Nova Scotia page, does not have a clear picture on where you stand on this issue. It maybe your choice not to let either the Campaign know, or the people of Nova Scotian know where you stand, until such time as a bill is presented to the Senate.

Personally I feel that the members of the Senate are well aware of this issue. Having had five years to consider all the issues both pro and con, should know by now, where they stand.

The Nova Scotian MPs in the House of Parliament are all in favour of the release of the Post 1901 censuses, so it perplexes me that there are Senators in Nova Scotia who have not reach a conclusion where they stand. Wouldn't knowing where you stand on the issue be more conducive to ironing out the flaws in any legislation that is presented?

I feel very strongly on this issue and that the censuses records belong to the people of Canada. Under no circumstances should they be destroyed or kept under wraps for eternity. They are an invaluable record of the people of Canada and therefore belong to the people. I have no problem with them being held in trust for 92 yrs. before being turned over to the National Archives where they belong.

Please Hon. Oliver, support the release of the Post 1901 census.

Sincerely
Juanita MacDonald

From: Oliver, Donald H.: SEN
To: 'Muriel M. Davidson'
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 4:28 PM
Subject: RE: Your Census Release Support Would Be Greatly Appreciated

Thank you once again for your note.

D. H. Oliver

-----Original Message-----
From: Muriel M. Davidson [mailto:muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2002 10:54 PM
To: olived@sen.parl.gc.ca
Subject: Your Census Release Support Would Be Greatly Appreciated

To The Honourable Donald Oliver, Senator:-

I just checked the scoreboard for Senators and noticed you are still undecided about census release.

We know The Hon. Allan Rock is in charge and responsible for census records, although we have been told there is no reason records up to and including 1916 cannot be transferred to National Archives.

There SHOULD be discussion shortly on this matter -- and as one of your Senators, Senator Lorna Milne is actively working with Mr. Rock, will you support Senator Milne when there is any discussion and vote?

You may view the scoreboard at

http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Senscore3.htm#NS

If you state you SUPPORT Senator Milne, the GREEN will be changed to GOLD.

Many historians and genealogists HOPE for a great Christmas present of census release -- and there is a great deal of information at the following site:-

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~downhome/1906census.html

You or your assistant may answer by email, if preferred.

Sincerely yours,

Muriel M. Davidson muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca
Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee
Brampton, ON

From: "Muriel M. Davidson"
To: Senator Donald Oliver
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 12:03 PM
Subject: Take Time to be POSITIVE!!

To Senator Donald Oliver:-

Sincerely hope you are enjoying your retirement home at Pleasantfield, Queens County -- also the county where I was born.

Your Senator's Scoreboard shows you as still being Non-Committal -- the Green Fence -- pickets have been made sharper!!

http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Senscore3.htm#NS

Senator Lorna Milne could use your support with Bill S-12, and all Canadians would be very happy if we ever obtain the release of our heritage -- the census records.

Will it be too difficult to say YES to support?????

Muriel M. Davidson muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca
Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee

Oliver, Donald H.: SEN" wrote:

Dear Muriel,

I acknowledge with thanks your email of the 16th of October.

I have received countless requests to review Bill S-12 that is designed to automatically transfer census records to National Archives. I thank you for bringing your particular concerns to my attention.

I note your home was in Liverpool. I now live in North Queens, in a place called Pleasant River. I have never been happier.

Kind regards,
Senator Donald H. Oliver, Q.C.

-----Original Message-----
From: Muriel M. Davidson [mailto:davidson3542@home.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 7:55 PM
To: olived@sen.parl.gc.ca
Subject: Request YOUR Support On Behalf of Senator Lorna Milne

To Senator Donald H. Oliver:-

Very possibly you are familiar with Senator Lorna Milne's Bill S-12, designed to automatically transfer census records to National Archives. The census records are already stored there, very safely, but you and I are not able to access them, unless these are released in 2003.

Will YOU, representing the constituents of your area, SUPPORT Senator Lorna Milne as she works towards release of our history and our heritage?

http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Senscore3.htm#NS

At present you seem to be UNDECIDED -- a bit of fence? We hope you will change this sumbol!

One main fact you should remember is that not only genealogists and historians desire the release of the records. There are many families with missing family members, some arrived at Pier 21 as British Home Children -- their descendants are now attempting to complete the families.

Below my name is a homepage URL to make you think of home, Nova Scotia! My home was at Liverpool, NS, then Dartmouth, before I moved to Brampton, ON in 1953.

Muriel M. Davidson
Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee

Dear Senator:

I am interested in researching my family's history and wish to gain access to the 1911 and subsequent census records. It has been estimated that there are some 7.5 million plus Canadians involved in Genealogical research. These citizens, in their quest for their past, for their Canadian heritage, depend heavily upon the information provided in Census reports. Under current legislation, post 1901 Census reports will not be released to the Public after 92 years, as have been Census reports up to and including 1901. I am aware that Statistics Canada will not transfer these records to the National Archives because they claim it would violate Section 17 of the Statistics Act. Strong representations have been made to Mr. Tobin's office as minister in charge of Statistics Canada to change the legislation that controls release of the census.

I have recently learned that there are two alternatives to correct this undesirable situation. The first alternative is to introduce retroactive legislation to permit the release of all census records once they are 92 years old, as now provided for in the privacy regulations. The second alternative is to change the legislation to permit the release of census records STARTING WITH THE 2001 census. The second alternative is completely unacceptable as it would prevent researchers from viewing any census records falling between the years 1911 and 2001. The 92-year-rule gives more than adequate privacy protection to citizens enumerated in the census.

In the past two years, many of those 7.5 million plus voters, including myself, have sent numerous letters and email to their local Members of Parliament, Government Ministers, and Senators expressing their dismay with, and opposition to, this legislation. We have requested the legislation be amended to allow release to the Public of Census records after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census.

I write to ask the following question: would you vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public of Post 1901 Census Records after 92 years, starting with the 1906 Census? I respectfully request and strongly urge you to support the retroactive legislation to permit the release of the 1911 and subsequent census records.

I await your answer to this question at your earliest convenience.

Sharon Walker

Dear Sir:

I am aware that you are 'UNDECIDED' regarding the release of the 1906 and subsequent Census records to the public.

As a Canadian citizen, I do support the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records, and I encourage you to take a strong stand on BILL S-12, which will allow the publishing of the post 1901 Census records and any future census records as well.

I have been researching my families' roots for many years. Without records such as the Census' being available for all to review, it make 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 number of our forefathers immigrated during this period.

The Expert Panel acknowledges that these records are important and says they should continue to be made available.

I strongly urge you to support Bill S-12, making the information available to future generations of Canadians.

If you have bery good reasons why you cannot support this Bill, I would appreciate knowing what they are. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Marge MacDonald
Maple Ridge, BC

From: "Frank McKERRY"
To: Donald H. Oliver, SEN:
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 2:07 PM
Subject: Bill S-12 Release of Census

Hon. Sen. Donald H. OLIVER.

Sir: It is noted that you are undecided on how you will be voting on Bill S-12 the release of the Canadian Census to Archives Canada. Thousands of families trying to trace their ancestors who pioneered this great country Canada are awaiting the release of these Census so that they may have family closure.

We urge you Sir, please vote YES on Bill S-12.

Respectfully

Frank McKerry Vernon, BC

August 1, 2001

Gordon A. Watts
Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee
1455 Delia Drive
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
V3C 2V9

Dear Mr. Watts

I acknowledge with thanks your letter of July 1, 2001. I appreciate the time and effort that went into your research on the census debate. It is obviously a topic of great interest to you.

For more than a year, release of census data had been subjected to vigourous debate in the Senate of Canada. There are frankly strong arguements to be made for both positions. I favour my right to privacy and that colours my view of this issue.

My opinion on the subject of the release of post-1901 census records is basically this:

The best way to provide access to personal census information in the future is by giving the individual respondent the right to privacy which would be protected. While I am generally opposed to retroactive legislation, I feel that there would be room for compromise for people who wish to do research on their own family histories.

I wish you all of the best in your future eneavours on this matter.

Yours most truly,

Senator Donald H. Oliver, Q.C.

Honourable Sir or Ms.

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 francais 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