[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] 2006 Canadian Census

Thu May 4 13:53:05 PDT 2006

Hello,

The biggest problem with this census question is that a lot of people won't
understand the implications.  As an example I was telling my Mom that she
had to be sure to answer yes to question #53, she said why would she want
that information to be public.  When I explained that if in 1911  my Great
Great Grandparents had had this questions and answered no I wouldn't be able
to see them in the census, she said oh that's what you mean.  They needed to
clarify the question by putting ie. for genealogical purposes in parentheses
behind it or something.  I figure that if my Mom didn't get it then my
Grandparents and other seniors sure won't and they'll either say no or leave
it blank  I sent an email to pretty much everyone I knew explaining the
question and asking them to put yes.  It's a good idea to take it up with
our MP's though I will certainly be doing so.

Have a wonderful day,
Barbara Cooper

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "gpvjem" <gpvjem at sasktel.net>
To: <Ger-Poland-Volhynia at eclipse.sggee.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] 2006 Canadian Census

           Your comments echo my thoughts completely.
    I have already take the issue up with my Member of Parliament because 
that seems the only way to attack such policies which are usually dreamt up 
by political appointees and unelected government bureaucrats.

John Marsch

-------------------------------------

  To all,

  In a world where everyone has "rights", this
  seems like a truly sad state of affairs to
  destroy parts of the census, just because it is
  supposed that a person should have privacy rights
  long after they are dead.    Does this mean that
  the next step is to remove the headstones in the
  cemeteries so that no one knows anything about
  anyone who is dead?   On the other hand, it seems
  perfectly legal for the "news" reporters to stalk
  living people and make their lives totally open to the public.

  I once took an extra set of my daughter's keys to
  her school so that she could get into her car in
  which she had locked her keys.    I was not
  allowed to take the keys to her, as that would
  have violated her privacy rights.

  The world is definitely run by a few noisy
  idiots.    It would seem that those who are
  silent are always the ones who lose things of
  value.    I think every Canadian should make a
  tremendous uproar about this whole issue.

  Gary Warner

  At 08:33 PM 05/02/06, gpvjem wrote:
  >     For the information of Canadian members of the SGGEE Mailing List.
  >
  >John Marsch
  >
  >--------------------------------------------------
  >
  >  Census Day 2006 is scheduled for Tuesday, 16
  > May. For the first time in the 340 years
  > Censuses have been conducted in the territory
  > that was destined to become Canada, respondents
  > will be asked to provide consent for the
  > release of information they provide, 92 years
  > after collection. Until now, no such consent
  > was required. The question that will appear on
  > the Census questionnaire is as follows:
  >The following question is for all persons who
  >usually live here including those less than 15 years old.
  >
  >If you are answering on behalf of other people, please consult each 
person.
  >
  >The Statistics Act guarantees the
  >confidentiality of your census information. Only
  >if you mark "YES" to this question will your
  >personal information be made public, 92 years
  >after the 2006 Census. If you mark "NO" or leave
  >the answer blank, your personal information will
  >never be made publicly available.
  >
  >Does this person agree to make his/her 2006
  >Census information available for public release
  >in 2098 (92 years after the census)?
  >
  >___ Yes    ___ No
  >
  >Inclusion of this 'informed consent' provision
  >in Censuses to be conducted from 2006 was the
  >price forced upon genealogists and historians
  >seeking to regain public access to Historic
  >Census records to which existing legislation
  >already stated we were entitled. We had been
  >advised that unless this provision was accepted
  >the government would not present the Bill (S-18)
  >to end our seven-year campaign to regain public
  >access to Historic Census records in accordance
  >with provisions of the Access to Information and Privacy Acts.
  >
  >Why should you answer YES to the 'informed
  >consent' question on Census?  The greatest value
  >of Census records to researchers is in their
  >'completeness'.  If significant numbers of
  >respondents answer negatively, or do not answer
  >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.  If certain kinds of
  >persons do not answer this question, research
  >based on 100% nominal census data will be biased
  >and its value therefore compromised.  The
  >following list shows only a few examples of
  >where Historic Census has been used successfully to benefit people today:
  >
  >·        For genealogical research. To find
  >information about ancestors you may or may not
  >have previously known existed. To find the
  >make-up of their families and how they evolved
  >through successive Censuses. To learn where they
  >lived, their occupations, when and where they
  >were born, ethnic origins, education and religion, etc.
  >
  >·        For sociological, demographic, economic
  >and historic research: historical information on
  >the social structure of Canada - sizes of
  >families, age groupings of children,
  >grandparents and siblings at home, servants and
  >other household attendants, education, religious
  >affiliation, race, ethnic origins, housing,
  >business and agriculture production,
  >immigration, patterns of migration, etc.
  >Historical Census data, especially long-term
  >Census data series, allow us to research
  >patterns of economic and social inequality, and
  >to examine the roots of important family
  >patterns such as living alone, single-parent families and blended 
families.
  >
  >·        To verify age, or date and place of
  >birth where other sources are unavailable, in
  >order to establish eligibility for pensions, etc.
  >
  >·        To prove identity to obtain legal
  >documents, i.e. passports, birth certificates.
  >
  >·        To determine descendancy to settle
  >estates where no will has been found.
  >
  >·        To provide clues to genetically inherited diseases or 
disabilities.
  >
  >·        To show proof of residency in order to prove land or property 
title.
  >
  >·        To establish legal entitlement as a
  >member of a group, i.e. as a Native Indian.
  >
  >·        To verify group residency or land use
  >to settle Aboriginal land claims.
  >
  >·        To verify current owners of properties,
  >or heirs of same, where property is to be sold for non-payment of taxes.
  >
  >·        To establish or verify original owners
  >of rights of way, mineral rights, or foreshore rights.
  >
  >·        To ensure your place in the history of Canada
  >
  >
  >
  >Ensure your place in the history of Canada. On
  >Census Day 16 May 2006, answer YES to allow your
  >information to be made available to your
  >descendants in 2098. Ask everyone you know to do so as well.
  >
  >
  >
  >For more information visit the Post 1901 Census
  >Project website at www.globalgenealogy.com/Census
  >
  >
  >
  >Gordon A. Watts  gordon_watts at 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
  >

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