PUBLICATION:
The
Leader-Post (Regina)
DATE:
2003.04.04
EDITION: Final
SECTION:
Viewpoints
PAGE:
B7
COLUMN:
Our Views
SOURCE:
The Leader-Post
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another
misfire for gun registry
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The
federal Liberal government just can't get it right when it comes to the firearms
registry.
Wednesday,
Government House Leader Don Boudria withdrew from next week's legislative agenda
a bill dealing with the scandal-plagued program. Given the registry's fiscal
woes, it really shouldn't come as a surprise that the decision to withdraw the
bill could add millions to the program's already-obscenely bloated $1 billion
cost.
In
part, the bill was withdrawn because of the government's concern about the
resistance by the Opposition and Liberal backbenchers. However, the principal
reason was possible legal complications and political problems resulting from
the proposed transfer of responsibility for the firearms registry from the
Justice Department to the Solicitor General's Department.
Solicitor
General Wayne Easter confirmed that some wording in the bill and references to
the minister of justice might have to be changed before he can legally take
responsibility for the the Canada Firearms Centre and other aspects of the
program: "The overall program in terms of the firearms' centre, how it will
function, will come over to the solicitor general and that would have to be
specified somehow, in the legalese, that it would be me as minister who is
accountable and responsible."
In
addition to switching responsibility for the registry, the bill would create a
commissioner to oversee the program, make it easier to comply with the act by
streamlining administration and allow for the staggering of dates for gun
licensing and registration certificate renewals.
Easter
also admitted that the government's hoped-for- savings from the changes intended
to keep the cost of the program at $113 million over the next year, won't occur
until Bill C10a becomes law.
Given
the firearms registry's troubled past, it is unconscionable that there were any
problems with the wording of any legislation connected with this boondoggle.
If
it weren't for the fact that it's even more of the taxpayers' money that stands
to be wasted, one might be tempted to laugh at this latest gaffe. But it is our
money and we're not laughing.
-------------------------------------------
2003-2004
Estimates - A Report on Plans and Priorities
Approved
Martin
Cauchon
Minister
of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/futurespendingforfirearms.htm
Firearms Program - Planned Spending
2003-04
= $113.1 million
2004-05
= $ 94.9 million
2005-06
= $ 75.7 million
Note
1: Above planned spending amounts
reflect the plan of action announced by the Minister of Justice on February 21,
2003. Declining planned spending is
based on: steady state of licensing
intake; implementation of ASD; administration efficiency measures and the
passage of C-10A by the start of the 03-04 fiscal year.
Note
2: The Alternate Service Delivery
contractor has indicated that the scope of work to achieve certification exceeds
the estimated efforts, due to unanticipated requirements. The additional work may cost as much as $15 million and is
not included in the planned spending. The
scope of this work and the potential costs are currently being reviewed by the
government contract authority, Public Works and Government Services Canada.
-------------------------------------------------
2002-2003
Estimates - A Report on Plans and Priorities
Approved
Martin
Cauchon
Minister
of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20022003/jus-jus/jus0203rpp02_e.asp
Firearms Control Program - Planned Spending
2002-03
= $113.5 million
2003-04
= $ 95.0 million
2004-05
= $ 80.0 million