Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.
Yorkton-Melville		 News Release

For Immediate Delivery

November 10, 1998

GUN REGISTRATION VIOLATES PRIVACY RIGHTS AND RISKS SAFETY OF MILLIONS

"The Charter guarantees everyone a ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’ – On December 1st it’s gone!"

Yorkton – Today, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, went public with his concerns for the privacy and safety of all Canadians and especially the seven million law-abiding, responsible firearm owners. "Since July 9th, I have filed four complaints with the Privacy Commissioner. The government seems determined to bring Bill C-68, the Firearms Act, into force on December 1st. I think it’s only fair that honest citizens be made fully aware of the threat to both their privacy and their safety – the safety of their families, their homes and their private property," warned Breitkreuz.

The privacy issues Breitkreuz raised with the Privacy Commissioner are as follows:

The Privacy Commissioner has acknowledged receipt of Breitkreuz’ complaints but has still not provided any definitive answers. "Time is getting very short," warned Breitkreuz, "We have less than a month to go until start-up and millions of Canadians need to know whether the Charter and the Privacy Act are going to protect their privacy rights or not."

In 1984, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled "…that the guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure in section 8 [of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms] …protected a ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’." (Chapter 45.4(b) From Property to Privacy, Constitutional Law of Canada, Third Edition, by Professor Peter W. Hogg). "The fact is that the privacy and safety of millions of individuals who happen to own firearms was not the least bit threatened until the passage of Bill C-68. Do any of the privacy issues raised in my four letters constitute an invasion of an individual’s right to a ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’?" asked Breitkreuz. "I think it’s outrageous the government has such little respect for our right to privacy and so little concern for our safety."

In his 1996/97 annual report to Parliament, the Privacy Commissioner said, "Since the [firearms] regulations themselves provide little detail, it now appears that the only forms and schematic of the process will provide the answers – far too late to provide legal protection." Breitkreuz concluded, "In addition to the concerns described in my letters, I also asked the Privacy Commissioner if his 1997 concerns had been adequately addressed by the government. Many honest people are now very afraid for their safety. Millions more are at risk without even knowing it. It’s time for some answers."

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The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.

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