| NOTE:
Versions of this article were also in the Ottawa Citizen, Saskatoon Star
Phoenix, Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald, Monteal Gazette
PUBLICATION:
National Post -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tory tries to halt spending on gun registry: Last shot before election: Two motions tabled on funding for firearms centre -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTTAWA - Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz is taking one last shot at the federal gun registry before the next election by tabling motions to vote down $64-million in funding for the Canada Firearms Centre when the House of Commons deals with government spending approvals on Tuesday. Mr. Breitkreuz has tabled two motions opposing main estimate items for the Canada Firearms Centre -- one that would scrub $49,564,000 earmarked for the program in the Solicitor-General's department and another that would cancel $14,550,000. The motions are likely to fail because of Bloc Quebecois support for the program, but they could prove troublesome for the Liberals and the NDP. Some MPs from both parties have opposed the registry, including Liberals who are also opposed to the government's same-sex marriage bill. Sarnia Liberal Roger Gallaway, who last December threatened to vote against supplementary spending for the registry, but backed down after a public outcry and pressure in his caucus, did not respond to a telephone call Friday. New Brunswick Conservative Rob Moore, who has joined Mr. Breitkreuz in the Tory campaign against the registry, said he hopes rebel Liberals will oppose the spending. "All I can say is I certainly hope they do support us," said Mr. Moore, who praised Mr. Breitkreuz's leadership in the 10-year campaign against the program. "Canadians know the gun registry is an absolute fraud, and the Liberals know that as well," said Mr. Moore. "If they want to be fiscally prudent, they should support Garry's motions." Mr. Breitkreuz was en route to his Saskatchewan riding yesterday when the motions appeared in Commons order and notice papers, and could not be reached for comment. An aide to Liberal House leader Tony Valeri did not know whether any Liberals planned to support the motion, which, if the government wished, could be declared a confidence vote. Former justice minister Allan Rock forecast the gun registry program would cost only $2-million when it was introduced in 1995. But, after a virtual guerrilla war against the program by gun owners, court challenges by provinces and the eventual elimination of almost all licensing and registry fees, the cost soared to an average of $100-million a year over 10 years. The program's trouble-plagued computer system, poorly managed and burdened with a series of programming changes, cost more than $300-million. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- June 10, 2005 - BREITKREUZ'S MOTIONS OPPOSING FUNDING
FOR FIREARMS FIASCO June 3, 2005 - Breitkreuz Motion to Redirect Funds from
the Canadian Firearms Centre |