Re: “Canada’s archives fall short,” Nov. 26.
Thank heavens for the federal auditor general’s report on the shortcomings of Library and Archives Canada. Their recent project of attempting to digitize First World War military records is turning into an absolute shambles and a waste of government funds.
With the centenary of the First World War, they announced on their website that the public would soon have free access to all Canadian First World War military records. They said in the interim, portions would be made available as they were digitized, and with that they shut down what had been a fairly decent working web portal and replaced it with one that does not work.
Having tried on several occasions to try to find the military record of my uncle, I gave up in frustration and, judging from the comments left by other folks, I am not alone.
Let’s hope the deficiencies outlined in the auditor general’s report will be addressed sooner rather than later, before all is lost. Our ancestors deserve better treatment.
Shirley Waldon
Victoria
