GERALD GORDON KEDDY M.P., South Shore, Nova Scotia

Gerald Gordon Keddy is the son of Gordon (Jack) Keddy and Thelma Marcella Gates. He graduated from Acadia University in 1975 with a B.A. in history. First elected in 1997, he was appointed Progressive Conservative Critic for the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1997. Gerald is a farmer, Christmas tree grower and exporter in New Ross, Nova Scotia. He was formerly employed as a driller in the offshore Nova Scotia oilfield. He is a charter member and past president of the New Ross Historical Society and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 79. Gerald is past director of Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association and past president of the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia. In addition to his passion for the outdoors and canoeing, Gerald is an avid reader with a special interest in early Canadian History, which is why he is supporting our Post - 1901 Canadian Census Campaign.

GERALD GORDON KEDDY (GORDON FOSTER, EDWARD JAMES, JAMES EDWARD, WILLIAM MICHAEL KEDY, ALEXANDER FREDERICK, WILLIAM, ALEXANDER) is a direct decendant of Alexander Kedy who immigrated to Nova Scotia with his wife Mary Ann Perriman and their two sons William and Alexander Jr. in 1749 with Edward Cornwallis expedition from London, England aboard the ship "Winchelsea", and was a member of the first Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly in 1758, representing Lunenburg, N.S. with Philip Knaut.

GERALD KEDDY was born on February 15, 1953 in New Ross, he married SUSAN CLAYTON CROAN (teacher) on July 9, 1977 in the First Parish Unitarian, Scituate, Mass., U.S.A. and they have two teenage sons, Benjamin Michael and Joshua Alexander.In a letter written to Mr. Donald A. Snow from Bridgewater, N.S. dated: June 7, 1999.

Dear Mr. Snow:

I would like to thank you very much for your recent letter regarding accessing 1911 census records.

I have written the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada on a few occasions to voice my objections over their refusal to make public the 1911 census records. Most recently, on March 13th, I wrote to the Hon. John Manley asking that he simply maintain existing procedures already in place.

By this, I mean that records would be released to the National Archives and through them to the public 92 years after the taking of the census. This would mean that the 1911 census would be available to the public in the year 2003 and every ten years later, the next census would be opened. However, it is my intent to put forth a private members bill on this issue this coming fall.

Genealogical research is becoming increasingly important to many Canadians as well as foreigners who come to Canada in search of their roots. Please be assured that I will continue to call upon the Minister to make these records available to all Canadians who seek important information about the past.

Sincerely yours,
Gerald Keddy, MP
South Shore