November 05, 2009

Vote sends gun registry on the path to extinction

The Edmonton Sun
Final, Page 7

Webmaster Note: Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen was one of 21 Opposition MPs to support Bill C-391, which seeks to abolish the gun registry.

The gun registry has moved one critical step closer to its slow demise.

MPs voted 164-137 last night in favour of C-391, a private member’s bill from Manitoba MP Candice Hoeppner to abolish the 14-year-old registry.

Cheers of applause rippled through the House of Commons after the emotional vote passed with the support of 21 Liberal, NDP and independent MPs.

Bloc Quebecois MP Claude Guimond, who is suspected of having the H1N1 virus, was so determined to stand up against the bill that he showed up wearing a mask.

The vote means the bill has approval in principle of the House.

It will go to committee for further study before a third vote then be sent to the Senate for final approval.

Hoeppner called it “step one” but said there is much work to see the bill abolished for good.

Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control, accused the Tories of waging an “American-style” campaign that spread misinformation that flies in the face of police and public safety experts.

She believes the issue has slid under the public radar because of the H1N1 crisis.

“We’re still hopeful that once Canadians get the facts, understand what’s at stake, understand that this isn’t going to save a lot of money, I think they’re going to be outraged,” she said. “I think the silent majority will stand up and I think we still have a chance to defeat this bill at third reading, in the Senate, or in the courts. It’s not over until it’s over.”

Earlier in the day, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff downplayed the dissent in his caucus, insisting his party has a “strong and passionate commitment” to gun control.

But he acknowledged the controversial registry has failed to garner “legitimacy” in rural Canada, and said Liberals would consult with victims’ groups, hunters and legitimate gun owners to develop a “proposal” to improve it.

Ignatieff blasted the Conservatives for exploiting the registry as a “wedge” issue with blatant disregard to public safety.

“This is an issue where we need to be bringing Canadians together instead of dividing them. The prime minister has used a private member’s bill for no other purpose than to cause mischief with the other parties,” he said. “The fundamental issue is to make sure we get a system of gun control which works for rural Canada and urban Canada. I’m convinced that we can — but not with this government.”

While the policing community is split over the usefulness of the registry — some call it an effective crime-fighting tool and others view it as a hindrance — Ignatieff said the Conservatives should not ignore the fact the system is consulted 9,000 times a day by police.

Voting Record All Conservative MPs voted to scrap the gun registry. Here are the opposition members who also voted in favour:

12 NDP MEMBERS

Malcolm Allen (Welland)

Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay)

Niki Ashton (Churchill)

Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic)

Nathan Cullen (Skeena-Bulkley Valley)

Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt)

Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin— Kapuskasing)

Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay—Superior North)

Jim Maloway (Elmwood—Transcona)

John Rafferty (Thunder Bay—Rainy River)

Peter Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore)

Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury)

8 LIBERALS

Scott Andrews (Avalon)

Larry Bagnell (Yukon)

Jean-Claude D’Amours (Madawaska —Restigouche)

Wayne Easter (Malpeque)

Keith Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca)

Anthony Rota (Nipissing—Timiskaming)

Todd Russell (Labrador)

Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander— Grand Falls—Windsor)

1 INDEPENDENT
Andre Arthur (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier)

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