Canadians gave our government a strong mandate to end the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry once and for all. Bill C-19, the Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act, did just that.
It has been suggested in various media reports that Provincial Chief Firearms Officers are attempting to collect point of sale data that they are no longer authorized to collect pursuant to Bill C-19. To be clear, the Firearms Act neither authorizes this activity, nor any other measures that could facilitate the creation of a provincial long-gun registry.
Yesterday, the Minister of Public Safety, Vic Toews wrote to the head of the RCMP to make it clear that these blatant attempts to bring back a long gun registry through the backdoor and ignore the will of Parliament will not be tolerated. Minister Toews wrote,
“The Canadian Firearms Program and the RCMP at large are to provide no assistance or direction to any province seeking to undertake measures of this nature, except as expressly required by valid provincial legislation. The position of the Federal Government, as dictated by the will of Canadians, is that registration of long-guns is wasteful and ineffective. I expect that this position will be fully respected at all times, while respecting the judicial injunction in Quebec that we will continue to vigorously oppose in the courts.
If it comes to your attention that CFOs are interpreting the Firearms Act as a basis for unauthorized data collection, please advise me immediately. I am prepared to consider all legislative and regulatory measures necessary to give effect to the will of Canadians.”
Now, it is your turn to speak up. Visit www.cherylgallant.com/your-voice to find a short survey on what further changes should be made to protect responsible gun owners from being targeted and criminalized.