Guest Author - Betty Dobson

Read Part 1

CC. What's the biggest roadblock you've run up against?

Watts: There are a couple of major roadblocks and it is difficult to say which is the biggest. One of the biggest problems we have had is getting the media to pay attention to us and to help make the general public aware of the withholding of Historic Census records from public access. Over the past several years there have been a few major articles in the larger newspapers that have commented on the large and growing number of people that have taken an interest in genealogy, family history and history in general. They have commended those who promote this, such as the Church of the Latter Day Saints and the Canadian Genealogy Centre put together by Library and Archives Canada, but have made little or no mention of the fact that one of the greatest sources of information for genealogists and historians is being withheld simply by the Chief Statistician refusing to return control of Historic Census records to the National Archivist. For the most part the media seem to believe our effort to be not newsworthy and make no mention of it--either ignoring it or refusing to print articles and letters to editors regarding it. I find it difficult to believe that an issue that affects all Canadians, and that an estimated 25% of the population have an interest in, can be considered by the media as not being newsworthy.

Another major roadblock is the continued promotion by the Chief Statistician that a "promise" was made to the people in 1905 that information provided to Census takers would "never" be made available to the public. No one, including Statistics Canada, has been able to provide any documented evidence that such a "promise" was ever made or existed. We have proven that this "promise" does not exist except in the minds of those who wish it to be. Even so, Dr. Fellegi continues to promote it, at least to Members of Parliament who seek information on the issue, many of whom appear to accept what they are told without question. What I personally find most frustrating to see a Member respond to our questions of support by referring to a "promise" of never-ending confidentiality that does not now exist, nor has it ever existed.

CC. What do you consider your greatest success so far?

Watts: In terms of what we have accomplished, the greatest success has been the release and placing online of scanned images of the 1906 Census of the North-Western Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba on 24 January 2003. A large part of that success is due to the efforts of Senator Lorna Milne, former MP Murray Calder, and their staff who spent endless hours meeting with Senators, MPs, Ministers and other Members of Cabinet to convince them of the need to release the records. Many others contributed to that success by sending to Ottawa more than 62,000 signatures on petitions, along with untold number of letters and email sent to all Members of Parliament and Senators. At times we were informed by MPs and Senators that more correspondence had been received on the Census issue than on any other subject.

Along with that accomplishment must come the disappointment that release of the 1906 records apparently did not set a precedent for the similar release last year of the 1911 National Census of Canada. Considering that both Censuses were conducted under the same legislation and similar Instructions to Officers and Enumerators of Census, there is no reason why they should be treated differently. By releasing and making public the 1906 Census the government has conceded that the existing legislation allows them to do so. Their refusal to now release the 1911 and subsequent Censuses on a continuing basis in accordance with clauses of the Access to Information and Privacy Acts defies reason.

CC. Some people might view the project as a strictly genealogical concern. Why should non-genealogists care about public access to old census data?

Watts: It has been stated that Historic Census records are the greatest single source of information available to those seeking their ancestral roots. It is the only source that can give information on a family, and it is the only source that provides that information on a fixed, periodic basis. It is the only source that can provide information on as yet unknown family members. Vital Statistics, on the other hand, will provide information only on a single individual that is previously known to exist, and will give information only when a specific event, such as a birth, death or marriage takes place.

There is no doubt that Census records are of great value to genealogists but it is not only genealogists that benefit from researching them. Academic historians use them for demographic purposes. With them they are able to determine any number of things such as where immigrants came from and when. By accessing and comparing successive Censuses patterns of migration may be determined. Economic conditions at different periods and comparison of information regarding medical situations and epidemics might show the reasons for why such migrations took place.

There are any number of reasons why people of today might benefit from the knowledge gained by researching records of Census from almost a century ago. To paraphrase an old saying, those who do not remember their history are doomed to relive it. The greatest value of Census is in the "completeness" of the records and information provided. Anything that detracts from that "completeness," such as an "informed consent" provision that would withhold some records from release for future Censuses would diminish the value of these most vital records.

Read Part 3