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

For Immediate Delivery

April 20, 1999

SURVEY SAYS, "GUN REGISTRY THE LOWEST JUSTICE PRIORITY FOR THE PEOPLE"

"It’s time tax dollars were spent on the people’s priorities instead of pet, political projects."

Paradise, Nova Scotia – This evening at a rally in this community, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, released results of a national poll conducted for him earlier this month. "This poll provided statistical confirmation of something people were telling me for a long time," said Breitkreuz. "I only wish the Liberals would listen to the people for a change. Then your hard-earned tax dollars would be going to the real criminal justice priorities instead of pet political projects."

Between March 20 – April 3, 1999, Feedback Research Corporation asked 1,500 respondents the following questions in a national telephone poll. The survey results are accurate to within ± 2.7%, 19 times out of 20.

"As you may know, the federal government is planning to spend between $50 to $60 million a year to implement the new firearm registration system. Some people say that the implementation of the firearm registry system will improve public safety by reducing crime, while others say that this money would be better spent by fighting crime more directly. In your opinion, if the federal government were to spend between $50 and $60 million a year to fight crime, how much priority would you like to see put on each of the following areas: Please answer using a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is ‘very low priority’ and 10 is ‘very high priority’. How about …..(READ and ROTATE)."

  1. 90% - Adopting tougher sentences for violent criminals and repeat offenders

    2. (90% of respondents ranked this measure priority 6 and above)
  2. 88% - Improving family violence intervention programs and women’s crisis centres

    3. (88% of respondents ranked this measure priority 6 and above)
  3. 86% - Strengthening the Young Offenders program

    4. (86% of respondents ranked this measure priority 6 and above)
  4. 83% - Improving community policing and crime prevention programs

    5. (83% of respondents ranked this measure priority 6 and above)
  5. 82% - Fighting organized crime and biker gangs

    6. (82% of respondents ranked this measure priority 6 and above)
  6. 78% - Putting more police officers on streets and highways

    7. (78% of respondents ranked this measure priority 6 and above)
  7. 54% - Ensuring that all rifles and shotguns are registered

(54% of respondents ranked this measure priority 6 and above)

-30-

For more information, please call:

Yorkton Office: (306) 782-3309
Ottawa Office: (613) 992-4394
e-mail: breitg0@parl.gc.ca