PUBLICATION:        The Windsor Star

DATE:                         2004.04.28

EDITION:                    Final

SECTION:                  Editorial

PAGE:                         A8

SOURCE:                   Windsor Star

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Health 'tax': Get rid of the real waste

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The federal Health and Finance departments are reportedly looking at a surcharge on income tax to fund the rising costs of health care. The idea of a dedicated health tax first surfaced in October 2002 in a Senate committee report that said medicare needed extra money -- beyond its existing revenue base -- in order to survive. Now, acording to one senior federal source: "A poll tax or a dedicated tax is a possibility. I don't think you can rule it off the table, if there's nothing else."

However, one "nothing else" that many Canadians will immediately think of is the Liberal government's wasteful and unnecessary rifle and shotgun registry.

When the registry was introduced in 1995, it was only supposed to end up costing taxpayers about $2 million. Since that time, the registry's costs have gone through the roof and the bill is now very close to $1 billion. Auditor General Sheila Fraser said the registry amounted to the worst cost overruns ever investigated by her department.

Yet despite Fraser's assessment, and vows by the Liberals to bring in sweeping changes that were supposed to cut costs, the rifle and shotgun registry is still out of control. 

During the 2003-04 fiscal year, the bill was $133 million -- $20 million over budget.

As well, there's no evidence that the registry has had an appreciable impact on gun-related crime, or prevented criminals from getting weapons. In fact, the country's worst gun crime, including killings in Toronto, is related to handguns even though they have been registered for decades.

Before Prime Minister Paul Martin considers imposing any new taxes on Canadians to pay for health care, he first needs to look at getting rid of unnecessary and wasteful programs. On that basis, the rifle and shotgun registry is public enemy No. 1.

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NEWS RELEASE - March 3, 2004

CBC’s $2 BILLION DOLLAR COST ESTIMATE FOR THE GUN REGISTRY WAS LOW

“One billion is gone and the only way to stop the waste of another billion is to scrap this useless program.”

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/breitkreuzgpress/guns115.htm