QUEBEC-L Archives

Archiver > QUEBEC > 2004-03 > 1078169425


From: "Muriel M. Davidson" <>
Subject: [QUEBEC] Post 1901 Census -- Information Commissioner
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 14:35:34 -0500


Greetings All.

I have just finished a telephone conversation with Dan O'Donnell, the
Investigator assigned to our complaints to the Information Commissioner
regarding the withholding from us of 1911 Census records.

During my last conversation with Mr. O'Donnell he indicated that he
thought the response of the Information Commissioner would be
forthcoming in about six weeks -- which would put that time about the
end of February.

Unfortunately, Mr. O'Donnell today advised me that there had been needs
arise for further representation/consultation with some others,
specifically representatives of various government departments. He was
unable to discuss with me what those needs were, nor with what specific
government departments these further representations/consultations must
take place. He expressed his regrets regarding this and said that his
'next best guess' would be that the response of the Information
Commissioner would take another month to come down.

Further delays are disappointing but we hope and trust that the end
result of these investigations will bring forth similar results to our
complaints regarding the withholding of the 1906 Census records. You
will recall that on that issue the Information Commissioner found there
was no valid reason for the withholding of these records, and he was
prepared to take the issue to the Federal Court on behalf of the
complainants. The end result of that, and of our previous legal action,
resulted in the release and unrestricted public access on the Internet
of scanned images of the 1906 Census of the NorthWestern Provinces.

The situation regarding the 1906 and 1911 Censuses are identical -- both
having been conducted under the same legislation, and similar
Instructions to Officers and Enumerators. We will be extremely
disappointed if the Information Commissioner comes down with a different
decision on the 1911 records than he did for those for 1906.

Happy Hunting

Gordon A. Watts
Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee
Port Coquitlam, BC

http://globalgenealogy.com/Census
en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm

Permission to forward without notice is granted.



This thread: