Canada's Industry Minister, Allan Rock, and Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, announced the release of the 1906 Special Census of the Western Provinces in late January. Family historians can now view population records for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta at the National Archives of Canada, or online at <www.archives.ca/02/020153_e.html>.

Many Canadian officials considered the move a victory for genealogists and other researchers, in a battle that's been raging over the public release of post-1901 Canadian censuses. While the 1906 special census' release is a step in the right direction for family historians, the Canadian government still has to determine how it will proceed in releasing census information in the future.