Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. Yorkton-Melville

News Release

For Immediate Delivery

June 3, 1998

GOVERNMENT SHOOTS DOWN REPEAL C-68 PETITIONS EIGHT TIMES

"On any other issue the Liberal government would have granted consent immediately," said Breitkreuz.

Ottawa – Yesterday, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville was denied the consent of the House to introduce 142 pages of petitions signed by 3,410 responsible firearm owners from across Canada. "Once is understandable, but to be denied eight times is deplorable," said Breitkreuz. "And the Liberals have the nerve to say this is an open government.

Routine Proceedings at 10 AM on Tuesdays is normally the time for introducing petitions. However, because of procedural wrangling, the government moved a motion to go straight to government business skipping the time for Members to introduce petitions. What started as a routine request by Breitkreuz to get the unanimous consent of the House to introduce his petitions ended up in an all day ordeal. He rose on a point of order on eight separate occasions throughout the day asking for the consent of the House to introduce the repeal C-68 petitions on behalf of his constituents.

At one o’clock, during his fifth time at the firing line Breitkreuz said, "Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I am finding it almost unbelievable that people from across Canada and from almost every province are giving me petitions to present and I am not allowed to properly present them." Liberal MP, Stan Keyes (Hamilton West) responded, "Mr. Speaker, maybe it would be helpful if the Speaker could explain to the hon. member that he does have the opportunity to deposit his petition at the clerk's table without having this show." The Acting Speaker, Ian McClelland put Mr. Keyes in his place by saying, "The House is forever indebted to the hon. parliamentary secretary for his pearls of wisdom. We will resume debate."

Breitkreuz got his chance to respond to Mr. Keyes suggestion later in the afternoon, "Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Anybody who introduces petitions behind the scenes is very cowardly and I have the right to submit these openly. I ask for the consent of the House to submit openly the great stack of petitions I have on the repeal of Bill C-68." The Speaker replied, "The incredibly persistent hon. member for Yorkton-Melville has asked the House for unanimous consent to revert to the presentation of petitions. Does the member have unanimous consent?" Some Members of House answered, "No."

Breitkreuz promised his constituents to introduce the hundreds more Repeal C-68 petitions with many more thousands of signatures the next time he is in the House.

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For more information please contact
The Office of GarryBreitkreuz, M.P.

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309
Ottawa: (613) 992-4394