Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. Yorkton-Melville

News Release

For Immediate Delivery

October 5, 1998

BREITKREUZ ACCUSES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THEFT

"The arbitrary taking of property by government is prohibited by the U.N. but not in Canada. Pity."

Ottawa – In defiance of more than 11,000 petitioners and The Canadian Real Estate Association representing 200 real estate boards across Canada, the government once again opposed Garry Breitkreuz’ property rights bill (C-304) in the House of Commons today. Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville told Parliament, "Once again I am disappointed that my bill has been given second-class status in this House. For the second time since I became a Member of Parliament, this important issue has been denied enough time for a full debate and MPs have been denied the opportunity to vote for or against strengthening property rights in federal law. Liberal and Bloc MPs opposed Breitkreuz’ amendments to the Canadian Bill of Rights. Peter MacKay, House Leader for the Progressive Conservative Party, declared his party’s support for Breitkreuz’ bill calling it "refreshing".

"Despite the fact that Canada ratified the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights fifty years ago, Canadians are still being arbitrarily deprived of their property." In his speech Breitkreuz exposed the weaknesses in the property rights protection in the Canadian Bill of Rights. "There are and have been so many examples: Bill C-68, the Firearms Act; the Canadian Wheat Board Act; the Endangered Species Act; the Pearson Airport Agreements Act; and the National Energy Program - just to name a few."

Breitkreuz used his expertise and knowledge of Bill C-68 (which created the new Firearms Act and amended the Criminal Code) to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the banning of 553,000 registered handguns by the government was completely arbitrary and exposed the government’s intentions to confiscate tens of thousands of legally-owned firearms without any compensation to their owners. "The government’s arbitrary ban destroyed the value of these legally-acquired handguns and took money out of these citizen’s pockets just as surely as a mugger takes the money out of his victim’s pockets on the streets of downtown Toronto," exclaimed Breitkreuz.

"The government proceeded with the ban despite evidence from the RCMP and Statistics Canada that registered handguns are not a threat to public safety," revealed Breitkreuz. "The criminals are already breaking the law by using unregistered guns for their crimes. The government failed to explain how they improved public safety by banning 553,000 registered handguns and leaving them safely stored and in the hands of good guys. The government actions proved my point about the arbitrariness of their decision." Breitkreuz also revealed how, in 1995, the government opposed an amendment by the Liberal dominated Justice Committee which would kept this arbitrary prohibition power from being entrenched in the Criminal Code of Canada - an absolute power that is not subject to review by Parliament and cannot be appealed to or overturned by the courts.

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

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