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© 2002 - 2005 AFHS
18 Jul 2002

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Activities of the Workgroup

AFHS Census ChallengeThe members of the workgroup at this time are:

  • Ellen Kinghorn
  • Myrna Waldroff
  • , 4012 Comanche Road, Calgary, Alberta T2L 0N8

The current activities of this workgroup are as follows:

 1.   Keeping in touch with the two politicians who are preparing to introduce private member's bills intended to make it possible for the nominal census data to continue to be released to the public. These are:
 a.  
The Senate of Canada
Parliament Buildings,
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4
NO STAMP NECESSARY
Tele: (613) 947-7695
 b.   , (Reform), M.P for Calgary Southeast
House of Commons
Ottawa K1A OA6
NO STAMP NECESSARY
Tele: (613) 992-2235
Fax: (613) 992-1920
 2.   Encouraging the membership of the AFHS to be as active in this debate as possible. In particular to encourage them to write letters and sign our petition [pdf], one of many to be prepared in various parts of the country.
 3.   Corresponding with Statistics Canada in order to try to get a clearer understanding of precisely how and why the census act was changed in 1906.
 4.   Keeping in contact with genealogists who are coming together from all over the country to oppose the proposed changes in the treatment of the census.
 5.   Monitoring the various websites that have arisen to deal with various aspects of our campaign.
 6.   Corresponding with various groups and organizations who would appear to have reason to support access to the census (e.g. medical geneticists, historians, writers, family organizations, civil liberties groups), and encouraging them to be active.
 7.   Studying the various statutes and regulations over the years which relate to the taking of the census and to the release of the information which it contains.
 8.   Studying the public statements that Statistics Canada has made over the years concerning the theory and practice of census taking.
 9.   Trying to find a way to organize the many "stakeholders" for the secondary use of the census into a cohesive political force.
10.   Exploring the possibilities of a "lobbying" approach to the bureaucrats who are most involved with this issue.
11.   Early planning of various ways that the debate could be brought before the general public, and made more dramatic and less intellectual, if this appears to be necessary.