From roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Sat Mar 18 17:04:03 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k2J043jb011691; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:04:03 -0700 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l.rootsweb.com [66.43.16.22]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k2J043vM012926 for ; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:04:03 -0700 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l [127.0.0.1]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with ESMTP id k2ILXHFI002548 for ; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:33:17 -0500 Received: (from roots-in@localhost) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.8/Submit) id k2ILXHqF002547 for roots-approved@rootsweb.com; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:33:17 -0500 Received: from lists5.rootsweb.com (lists5.rootsweb.com [66.43.27.41]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with SMTP id k2ILRCFI002493 for ; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:27:12 -0500 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) id k2INvlBR026894 for roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:57:47 -0700 X-Envelope-From: gordon_watts@telus.net Sat Mar 18 16:57:46 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k2INvkjb026885; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:57:46 -0700 Received: from priv-edmwes26.telusplanet.net (defout.telus.net [204.209.205.55]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k2INvgav009193; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:57:43 -0700 Received: from GORDON2 ([64.180.248.137]) by priv-edmwes26.telusplanet.net (InterMail vM.6.01.05.04 201-2131-123-105-20051025) with SMTP id <20060318235742.FZNX11835.priv-edmwes26.telusplanet.net@GORDON2>; Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:57:42 -0700 Message-ID: <002701c64ae7$c716d160$6800a8c0@GORDON2> From: "Gordon A. Watts" To: "Canada Census Campaign" Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 15:57:50 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 Sender: roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Subject: [ROOTS-L] Post 1901 Census - Correspondence with Chief Statistician of Canada Greetings All. FYI - I copy below correspondence sent to, and received from Chief Statistician Ivan P. Fellegi regarding his commitment to encourage respondents to Census to answer YES to the informed consent question on the upcoming Census. Inclusion of this question on future Censuses was the price we paid to ensure unrestricted public access to Historic Census records from 1911 to 2001. The next Census of Canada will be held 16 May 2006. It is time now to start advising friends, relatives and neighbours to answer YES to this question. If this question is not answered YES, or is left unanswered, your descendants will be unable to find information on you in Census records in 2098 (92 years in the future). If significant numbers of respondents respond negatively, or do not respond to this question at all, it will destroy the completeness of the records, and thus their value to genealogical or historical researchers will be forever destroyed. On Census Day, make sure you answer YES to allow your information to be made available to your descendants in 2098. Enjoy the Census! Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, British Columbia Read my column, 'Gordon Watts Reports' at http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/authors/authgw.htm ****************************** 6 March 2006 Dr. Ivan P. Fellegi Chief Statistician of Canada Ottawa, Ontario Dear Dr. Fellegi: During Senate Committee hearings leading to the passage of Bill S-18 - An Act to amend the Statistics Act, you committed Statistics Canada, in cooperation with Library and Archives Canada, to a publicity campaign to encourage respondents to Census to respond positively to the newly added 'informed consent' question. A positive response to that question would permit information provided to be made available to the public, 92 years after collection. A Census of Canada has been scheduled for 16 May 2006 and wording of the Census form has been set. Wording on these forms advises what will happen if the respondent answers YES or NO to the 'informed consent' question, or leaves the answer blank. The wording however, can hardly be construed as encouraging respondents to answer YES to this question. Would you kindly advise specifically what form the publicity campaign you have committed to will take, and how you intend to encourage respondents to Census to answer YES to the 'informed consent' question? When will this campaign begin? Please advise also in what manner the genealogical and historical communities of Canada might participate in, or assist in the campaign to encourage a positive response to the 'informed consent' question on Census. A response to my questions, at your earliest possible convenience, would be appreciated. Thank you. Sincerely Gordon A. Watts Co-chair, Canada Census Committee gordon_watts@telus.net ************************** The response from Dr. Fellegi, received by email 13 March 2006, was as follows: ************************** Dear Mr. Watts, Thank you for your e-mail of March 6, 2006, requesting information about Statistics Canada's publicity campaign to promote the 92-year consent question on the 2006 Census questionnaire. Statistics Canada and Library and Archives Canada are working closely together on this important project to ensure that all Canadians are aware of the importance of this question when they receive their 2006 Census questionnaires. I have attached a list of activities planned or already underway, designed to increasing awareness and knowledge amongst Canadians about the 92-year consent question and its importance to future generations. I would be pleased to provide you any additional information you might require. For further information on the Census Communications program, please contact, Dale Johnston at dale.johnston@statcan.ca. Again, thank you for your continuing interest in the census. Yours sincerely, Ivan P. Fellegi ******************************** The attachment referred to is as follows: ******************************** CENSUS DAY IS MAY 16, 2006 Census Activities in support of 92 YEAR CONSENT QUESTION Library and Archives Canada 1. The Census 2006 image with statement on LAC's Web home page for April 1. 2. Census statement on LAC "What's New" Web page for mid April. 3. A media advisory by LAC for Web "Media Room"(date to be decided). 4. A statement on Web site "Canadian Genealogy Centre" which is run by LAC and contains info and links to Canadian local history/genealogy groups (requested information to be put up asap). 5. A Census message from Librarian and Archivist of Canada Mr. Ian Wilson in SPRING "E-Newsletter/Cyberbulletin" which reaches 2500 email addresses. 6. Letter from Ian Wilson to "Friends of Library and Archives Canada" about Census. 7. Census promotional material given to LAC Reference and Reading Rooms as well Canadian Genealogy Centre (which has a physical presence in the Reference Room) 8. Letter from Ian Wilson to "Canadian Council of Archives" to include in their monthly newsletter Statistics Canada 1. Printed materials (fact sheets, articles, newsletters, Qs and As, Census Facts) have been developed with statement. More are in preparation. 2. Materials have been sent to businesses, associations, community groups, governments at all levels, police, cultural and immigrant groups. 3. Materials will be available electronically on the website. Will be identified as "Genealogy Corner". 4. Media interviews to date have included reference to the 92 year consent question. 5. Material is available to answer respondent questions about the 92 year question in the CHL and on the website 6. Three enrichment activities have been included in the Teacher's Guide