ERRORS
REPORT NUMBER FIVE!
By Garry
Breitkreuz, MP – Updated: October 1, 2002
“Every
error on those documents will put the document owner in a situation where they
will be considered guilty until proven innocent.
And that is a tragedy. The
administrative stupidity and incompetence is only a MINOR issue.
The scandal is NOT that they are mis-managing the database, but that they
CREATE CRIMINALS as a consequence of their messed-up system.”
A Quebec firearms owner – April 23, 2002
NOTE
#1: All
errors in firearms licences and registration certificates should be reported to
the Minister of Justice and the Auditor General of Canada.
All errors that either violate your privacy rights or have the potential
to do so should be reported to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Contact information is provided at the end of this document.
NOTE
#2: Breitkreuz’s
original errors report was released on February 28, 2002:
NOTE
#3: Breitkreuz’s
second errors report was released on April 10, 2002:
NOTE #4: Breitkreuz’s third errors report was released on May 30, 2002:
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/breitkreuzgpress/GunControl65.htm
NOTE
#5: Breitkreuz’s
fourth errors report was released on July 17, 2002:
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/breitkreuzgpress/GunControl68.htm
1.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ISSUES 4,114,624
REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES WITH 3,235,647 BLANK OR UNKNOWN ENTRIES: In
response to an Access to Information Act request by
Garry Breitkreuz that asked: “For
the 4,114,624 unique firearms that have been registered in the CFRS, please
provide copies of records showing the total number of times an entry is left blank
and the total number of times the entry is shown as unknown on the
Registration Certificates”
the Justice Department [ATIP File: A-2002-0112] responded on August 29, 2002,
admitting there were 3,235,647 Blank and Unknown entries including: 2,426,837
blanks for Barrel Length; 728,046 blank and unknown Serial Numbers; 72,072 blank
and unknown Makes; 6,362 blank and unknown Actions; and 3,324 blank and unknown
Types.
2.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ADMITS THEY ISSUED 15,381 FIREARMS LICENCES TO PERSONS WITH
NO PROOF OF HAVING PASSED A FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE: In
response to an Access to Information Act request by Garry Breitkreuz, the
Department of Justice [ATIP File: A-2002-0070 dated July 11, 2002] admitted: “Automated
searches have identified 1,831,896 valid Licensees for which there were 259
issued with the wrong photograph; 62 licences had no address and 15,381 had no
indication of having satisfactorily passed the safety training course or
equivalent.”
3.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ADMITS THEY ISSUED 26,800 DUPLICATE FIREARMS REGISTRATION
CERTIFICATES:
In response to an
Access to Information Act request by Garry Breitkreuz, the Department of Justice
[ATIP File: A-2002-0070 dated July 11, 2002] admitted: “Automated
searches have identified 3,791,146 uniquely registered firearms for which there
are 26,800 instances of duplicate registration certificates having been issued.
There were also 3,475 firearms registered under the wrong class and
subsequently corrected.”
4.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SENDS WARNING LETTER TO DECEASED MAN:
The following quote
was taken from an article published in The Edmonton Sun on September 20,
2002, Page 5: “Ottawa
will have to start looking at tombstones if it wants a dead Edmonton man to
register his guns, says the grandson of the deceased.
"It's a joke, a mockery, this whole registration system," Randy
Schultz said yesterday. "If they find (my dead grandfather), they're more
than welcome to arrest him." Schultz,
who purchased his grandfather's home after the man died, received a letter from
the federal government dated Aug. 9, 2002. The letter asked his grandfather,
Hulbert Henry Orser, to take his firearms registered in the previous Restricted
Weapons Registration System, and re-register them in the new Canadian Firearms
Registration System. "For each restricted firearm not re-registered by Dec.
31, 2002, you will be in possession of an unregistered restricted firearm, which
is contrary to the Criminal Code," it states. Orser died Oct. 23, 1981.
Although the letter doesn't specify which guns Orser needs to register, Schultz
said he's assuming Ottawa is talking about a German-made pistol his grandfather
owned. Handguns had to be registered under previous legislation while the three
rifles he owned didn't. Schultz said the handgun was given to a relative out of
province, who later gave it to a collector. The rifles were passed to Orser's
son, who died more than 10 years ago. Canadian Firearms Centre spokesman David
Austin said letters are being sent out to verify data being moved from the old
paper-based restricted firearms registry to the new computerized one. He said
the letter was sent to Orser because his family probably never told authorities
about a change. Not so, Schultz
said. After his grandfather died, Schultz said he took the handgun to Edmonton
RCMP, who sent the handgun to a Yukon relative. The relative later gave the
handgun to an Edmonton-area collector who deactivated the firearm. Again, the
RCMP moved the handgun. Austin said it wasn't incumbent on the police under the
old registration system to notify Ottawa about such a change.”
5.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WARNS DEAD MAN TO REGISTER A HANDGUN REPORTED TO POLICE AS
STOLEN 15 YEARS AGO:
The following quote
was taken from a letter to the editor published in The London Free Press
on September 18, 2002, Page A10: “With
Jean Chretien fast approaching the end of his term, I have been reflecting back
on one of his biggest blunders. On Sept. 12, I received a letter addressed to my
late father from the firearms registry. It was delivered to my address in an
attempt to locate him as I live in the same township as he did. The notice was a
form letter informing him he had to immediately re-register a restricted weapon
(handgun) the registry showed was in his possession, or he would face action
under the Criminal Code. The gun referred to was reported stolen 15-18 years ago
and was never recovered. When the
now multi-million, soon to be billion-dollar gun registry system was implemented
to monitor this type of situation, gun owners were told this sort of thing would
not happen. This proves the system is flawed, if not a total failure. Trying to
contact the registry for five hours by phone, and receiving a message their
system was overloaded with calls, reinforces the fact the system has failed. For
those who say mistakes happen, take notice: criminals will be able to own
firearms, while law-abiding citizens such as my late father and I are forced to
jump through hoops to register property we legally use and have owned all our
lives. The registry spent time and money trying to locate a gun stolen more than
15 years ago and a man that has been dead for two years when it is supposedly
linked to police and government information networks. This effort and money
would be better spent on funding police so they can take criminals and illegal
firearms off the street.” Jeffrey
G. Wyatt – Strathroy, Ontario.
6.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SENDS TRANSFER NOTICE TO A MAN THAT HAS BEEN DEAD SINCE 1997
- BEFORE BILL C-68 EVEN CAME INTO EFFECT: The
following letter dated July 29, 2002, was received from the widow of an Ontario
man: “I received in the mail today a letter addressed to my husband.
When I opened it I could not believe it.
It said my husband had sent in a request to re-register a Kentucky
Pistol. He never had a pistol and
he died five years ago. That is not
true unless Heaven has a mail route. If
they can communicate with him I would love to know how.
The registration of guns is a complete mess.”
[Enclosed with this lady’s letter was a Transfer Authorization
Number (Seller) Dept. of Justice form JUS800EF for the firearm in question
signed by Chief Maarten Kramers, Chief Firearms Officer of Nova Scotia]
7.
TWO YEARS AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS STILL PROCESSING A B.C. MAN’S FIREARMS
LICENCE APPLICATION:
The
following quote was taken from a letter to the editor published in The
Kimberly Daily Bulletin on September 24, 2002 edition, Page 1/Front:
“One
local resident has expressed frustration with delays in trying to get a firearms
license. Last week, Garth Rizzuto tried to get some satisfaction by going to
court. Rizzuto said he first filed an application for a firearms license in June
2000. Although he is not a hunter, Rizzuto first needs a firearms license in
order to register several guns he's owned for about 40 years.
"In 55 years I've never pointed a gun at anyone," Rizzuto said
in wondering about the delay. "I've never threatened anyone with a
gun."
Frustrated with the application process, Rizzuto filed a court
petition on Aug. 17 to get a day before a judge with the hope that a magistrate
could divulge the reasons for the delay. Local
lawyer Ty Colgur represented the Chief Firearms Officer in the matter. "His
application is still being processed," Colgur said.
Colgur emphasized that Rizzuto's license application has not been
refused. The main problem is too many applications and too few people reviewing
them. Colgur said at any one time the local firearms officer has about 100
applications to sift through. "It was 110 as of (Sept. 13)," Colgur
said. "Sixty applications require further in depth review for a variety of
reasons. Mr. Rizzuto is in the latter group."
Colgur said Rizzuto's correspondence with the Firearms Officer indicates
he wants some answers. "He argues that two and a half years is too long to
wait even if there is research," Colgur said. "Unfortunately there is
no time limit in the legislation."
8.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND RCMP MISS FOUR REGISTERED HANDGUNS IN THEIR SEARCH:
The following quote
was taken from an e-mail message received by Gary Breitkreuz on August 22, 2002:
“Sorry I did not
notify you sooner but
I did write to the RCMP and The
Department of Justice under the Freedom of Information Act to find out what
Firearms are registered in my name according to their system files.
Both replied in about 30 days and both told me I had ONE handgun
registered. The fact is that I have
had 5 handguns registered with the RCMP for at least 15 years and have the green
registration slips to prove it. This is more proof that their system is not
worth the powder to blow it to hell. It
is just a waste of taxpayers’ money which would be better used in the health
care system which is in dire need of money.
This is more ammunition for your fight to eliminate this great waste of
taxpayers’ money on the long guns registration system. Hope you can use the
information.”
9.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND RCMP REGISTERS TWO GUNS TO A MAN WHO DOESN’T OWN THEM:
Garry Breitkreuz
received the following letter from a man in B.C.: “I received these
firearms registration certificate in the mail.
It is my name on it, but I do not own the [two] firearms it so poorly
describes. As of yet, I have not
registered any firearms. I
understand that you will forward this to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and
that I will hopefully receive some kind of written assurance that these
certificates will be properly cancelled.”
10.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TRANSFERS A FIREARM TO A MAN WHO DIDN’T BUY IT:
Garry Breitkreuz
received the following letter from a man in Manitoba: “Please find attached
a copy of a Firearms Transfer Authorization and Registration [Dept. of Justice
form JUS830EF]. It authorizes me to
have a Remington bolt action Model 788 rifle.
The problem is I never bought this rifle, I do not own this rifle, I do
not store this rifle, I have no idea where this rifle is – AND NEITHER DO YOU.
When I registered a rifle in the past I had to stand at the counter of
the store and wait like a dog waiting for a bone to answer personal questions so
you people knew it was me. So who
was on the phone when you registered this rifle to me?
I will expect you to find this rifle and remedy my file so it shows only
the rifles that I registered personally. Please
reply back and let me know if you find this rifle and that you have deleted it
from my file.”
11.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACCUSED OF AN “ABSOLUTE BOLD-FACED LIE”:
Garry Breitkreuz
received an e-mail in response to a claim made by a Department of Justice
employee in an article published in The Moncton Times and Transcript on
September 2, 2002: “CFC
spokeswoman Chantale Breton said the centre sent forms to all licensed owners
earlier this year, but people who misplaced theirs or have any questions about
the process can telephone toll-free 1-800-731-4000.”
FIREARMS
OWNER’S RESPONSE: “This is an absolute
bold-faced lie. My wife has NEVER
gotten a single form from the center, and she is fully licenced.
She has NEVER gotten a single piece of documentation on anything from the
CFC since this fiasco started – which is several years now.
I have gotten some paperwork from them but she has not gotten a single
item. So for them to say EVERY
licenced owner was notified is completely false.”
12.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SENDS FIREARMS DOCUMENTS TO WRONG ADDRESS:
A copy of the following e-mail complaint was received in Garry Breitkreuz’s
office on September 23, 2002: “Dear
Sirs: I have just received in the mail 2 (two) pieces with a return address of
Box 1200, Miramichi NB. I can only
assume that these are from the Canadian Firearms Centre.
I have not opened these, as while they have my address on them, the
addressee(s) on them is not of anyone in this household.
I am very concerned that the CFC records are in error, & that
should it be decided that the police should be "visiting" this
individual(s) they will incorrectly be coming to my home.
This concern is especially strong given the methods that law
enforcement authorities have used in their search & seizure activities under
the auspices of C-68. This also
demonstrates a breech of security - I now know that this individual(s) has
firearm(s). This is one of the prime concerns of the law-abiding firearms
community has with a registration system: that their confidential information is
not being protected adequately & is too easily accessed. In about 4 seconds
on the internet (www.canada411.ca) I have found:
[She provided the person's correct address and also the names and
firearms licence numbers of the only two persons living at her address].
I hereby request that an investigation be done into how many CFC records
have my address incorrectly specified. I request that a report detailing all
records that have my address specified be forwarded to me as soon as possible
for my review & revision. Your
prompt attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated, & the courtesy
of a response is requested.”
13.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL BLAMES NEW RE-REGISTRATION ERRORS ON THE OLD
REGISTRATION SYSTEM THAT HAD THE CORRECT INFORMATION:
In addition to the 3.2 million blank and unknown entries on Firearms
Registration Certificates there are also hundreds of thousands of mistakes like
these. The following e-mail was
received from an Alberta firearm owner on September 20, 2002: “I
just called the C.F.C. regarding the "errors" on the registration certificates
I have received from re-registering restricted firearms on line.
The registration people changed the make of a black powder gun from
"Uberti and Gardone" to "Colt".
They also added C.V.A. as Make on a handgun that is definitely of unknown
maker. The C.F.C. told me that this
information was changed by the F.R.T.(firearms reference tables). I told them the F.R.T. was in error and in fact riddled with
errors. There was denial. Then I was told that the information was probably brought in
from the old registration information. I
had the green certificate in hand and informed the lady that the green slip had
the correct information on it and the new registration certificate was in error.
The lady then flagged the two registrations to be checked.”
14.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SENDS WRONG NOTICES TO MANY FIREARMS LICENCE HOLDERS.
Below are some excellent examples of many complaints Garry
Breitkreuz’s office has received over the last three months:
A.
JUSTICE DEPT. NOTICE
[Form JUST 976] dated July 12, 2002:
“Dear Firearm Owner, A review of our records indicates that you have a
firearm licence with restricted or prohibited privileges but you have not yet
applied to re-register any restricted or prohibited firearms.”
FIREARM
OWNER RESPONSE dated July 31, 2002:
“Your records are definitely not correct as I do not have a firearm
licence with restricted or prohibited privileges.
Furthermore, I do not have restricted or prohibited firearms and have had
any in the past. Please check your
records carefully and advise the writer and clear this matter up A.S.A.P.”
FIREARM
OWNER RESPONSE dated August 2, 2002:
“Regarding your letter of July 12.
Attached please find copies of all four Registration Certificates issued
by yourselves within the past 2 years. Note
that all Registration Certificates are dated well after I obtained the licence.”
FIREARM
OWNER RESPONSE dated September 16, 2002:
“This letter states I have not re-registered my restricted/prohibited
firearms with the CFRS. I have in
my possession the registration certificates for these [two] firearms in your own
system, how can our police forces be expected to access them in their time of
need? After all this was the whole
idea behind the registration of all firearms was it not.
At least this is what us honest Canadians were led to believe.”
B.
JUSTICE DEPT. NOTICE
[Form JUST 972] dated June 24, 2002:
“Dear
Firearm Owner, A review of our records indicates that you do not have any
firearms registered in your name.”
FIREARM
OWNER RESPONSE dated August 8, 2002:
“In
reference to your letter to me dated June 24, 2002, I do not agree of its
contents. The first sentence
mentions a review of your records indicating that I do not have any firearms
registered to my name. I in fact
have in my possession 2 registrations issued from your offices.” The
firearms owner provided copies of the registration certificates and asked the
department to correct their records.
FIREARM
OWNER RESPONSE dated July 31, 2002:
“I
received a letter indicating that a review of your records indicate that I do
not have any firearms registered in my name.
I find this note quite distressing.
In fact I have in front of me [four] registration certificates dated;
2000/05/10, 2001/03/22, 2001/05/30, 2001/12.07. How can this possibly be?
Was this warning letter blindly generated? If so where is the credibility?
If not, what database were you searching on? I hope that this will not be the one used in the future to
verify that my firearms are registered. A
firearm registered 2 years ago still does not appear on your records!”
FIREARM
OWNER RESPONSE dated July 26, 2002:
“I’m
not sure if you keep track of such things but I have received a letter from the
CFC [Canadian Firearms Centre] stating that although I have a Possession and
Acquisition Licence I have yet to register any firearms.
I purchased one two years ago brand new that I still have the
registration card for. I am
confident that this is likely happening to several thousand others.
Keep up the good work.”
FIREARM
OWNER RESPONSE dated July 14, 2002: “I
have received your letter dated 24 June 2002, in which you advise that I do not
have any firearms registered in my name. I
find this quite odd, since in reply to my request through the freedom of
information act, I received confirmation in a letter dated 29 May 2002, that I
do indeed have a firearm registered in my name.
This demonstration of inaccuracy of your records, causes me great concern
about the rest of the firearms that I am supposed to register by the end of the
year.”
15.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’S INCOMPETENCE AND POOR SERVICE GENERATES MANY, MANY
COMPLAINTS:
Here are just a few
of the complaints of bureaucratic incompetence and poor public service received
by Garry Breitkreuz, MP:
A.
E-mail complaint received on
September 3, 2002:
“I
am trying to complete a renewal application for my FAC/PAL. I followed the
instructions for help, and called 1-800-731-4000. First I am forced to listen to
a long speech about registration, etc. Then I am told, at 8:31 AM that they are
experiencing heavy call volume, and to please call during non-peak times, that
is, prior to 10AM and after 4 PM! Then I am cut off! By a machine! I am not kept
on hold to wait my turn. I am cut off. I tried 3 or 4 times, with the same
result each time.( It must be in B.C. because I called at 8:35 local time and
got a recording telling me that office hours are 8:30 AM to whatever PM)
Could you please find out for me if this is a glitch in the system, or is
this how we can expect to be treated from now on.”
B.
E-mail complaint received on
August 16, 2002:
“I
registered my firearms on-line
in March. Their database checked my data. In other words, all of the data was
already available and on file. Now it would not take a rocket scientist to
transfer that data to the new data base, automatically, after the registrant
(like myself) has filed. Following
the on-line registration, I received one registration certificate in
April (dated April 5) and, at the same time, a notice that they were starting
the registration process on another. Yesterday, August 15, I received the
registration for that second one. This process has taken five months and the registration
process for my possessions is not complete.
It boggles the mind how inefficient this process is and has been.
I trust the next non-liberal government will scrap this whole program and
put the money where it would be most effective; i.e., on the street.”
C.
E-mail complaint received on
July 29, 2002:
“For
about a year now I've been trying to register firearms online from my home
computer. You may recall previous emails I've sent you.
I have never been able to do so. I've
phoned and emailed the CFC employees and have been never given any answers or
effective guidance. I've never been
able to talk to anyone there about the problem. Messages left were never
returned. I've been given the royal run-around and have even written my
MP and never got an answer. Today,
I once again tried the online registration and got a "Network Error"
rejection from the CFC - same old thing. I called their technical help desk and
finally got a voice. After I talked
to the chap for a while, and verified everything on my computer was as they
indicate it should be, he finally said
"THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU" but I'll keep working on
it." He then asked me how many
firearms I had to register, as if that's important! Now, the CFC has failed to give me online access as they
advertise it. And they have failed
to assist me. Their costly system
does not work!”
D. Copy of a complaint letter sent to Justice Minister Martin Cauchon dated August 21, 2002: “Thank you very much for your reply of August 2, 2002 to my letter of February 27, 2002. I found it quite humorous and especially appreciated your tips on being a better pro-gun activist. However, the speed with which the justice department works certainly causes some concern. The long gun registry is no better. For the sake of honest, law-abiding, patriotic Canadians here are some other problems you should work on. 1. Two weeks of phoning day after day just to give someone your name and address. 2. Registration cards with missing information. 3. Phoning your home during the family dinner hour just to give someone your name and address. 4. Standing in a store for hours waiting for a transfer number only to have the business day end with no call. Back in the next day and had to phone the registry to get the number. 5. Registration cards with incorrect information. 6. A letter the very next day after getting the card corrected saying you have no firearms registered. This is my list sir. Some of these throw me into contravention of the law. How many other honest, law-abiding patriotic Canadians are struggling with your firearms registry. It’s useless if you can’t make it work. If you truly believe spending hundreds of millions of dollars counting gopher guns is going to accomplish anything then you better get on it. Have a great day.”
E. Copy of a complaint letter sent to Justice Minister Martin Cauchon dated August 20, 2002: “Please be advised on 16 July 2000, I applied for a Possession Only Licence and at the same time sent in the Registration forms for my four guns. In 2001, I received my possession only card but no registration certificates. In November 2001, I sent a letter and photocopies of my original application to the Firearms Centre about not receiving Registration Certificates for my guns and as yet have not received a reply. In January 2002, I received a rebate cheque, as I had paid for my registration and the policy had changed but I still did not receive my Registration Certificates. Please reply to me as soon as possible.”
F. Copy of a letter from a Korean War Veteran dated September 8, 2002: “A recent Bulletin listed a mix of Registration horror stories. I would like to add one to your eve- expanding list. Yesterday, (Saturday 7 Sept 2002) while preparing a letter for the Police Association Magazine I needed to know the cost to an individual to register a firearm after January 2003. The call was placed at exactly 1:30 PM (13.30 Hrs) Saturday, 7 September 2002. I remained on the line; entertained by a barrage of taped messages, repeated over and over again – but promising that all Enquiry Officers were busy but that once free an Enquiry Officer would respond. I stayed on the line out of curiosity. At exactly 2:30 PM (14.30 Hrs) the Messages ENDED. The Line went dead – No Tone. I immediately re-entered the 1-800 number. The line came alive with same endless recorded messages. I never did reach a Hot Body. What are we really paying for? Can I guess?”
G.
Copy of a letter sent to the
Canadian Firearms Centre dated September 10, 2002: “This is getting fairly ridiculous. This is the fifth letter I have written to this organization
since my first, which was dated 11-02-02. My
second dated 04-04-02. My third
dated 07-05-02. And my fourth dated
31-07-02 (in response to your solicitation of me to register my firearms dated
12-07-02). Might I please have a
response to the question I posed in mine of 11-02-02. My PAL you issued 29.01-02 was issued with an error.
How can it be that I could have been writing, requesting a response since
February? This is September!
Seven months and not a peep! Is
anyone home back there? The
criticism of this operation, by the media and the firearms community certainly
seems to be justified, given your inability to deal reasonably with the
public’s issues.”
CONTACT
INFORMATION
The
Honourable Martin Cauchon, P.C., M.P.
Minister
of Justice
Room
312, West Block
House
of Commons
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1A
0A6
Telephone:
(613) 995-7691
Facsimile: (613) 995-0114
E-mail :
Cauchon.M@parl.gc.ca
Mrs.
Sheila Fraser
Auditor General of Canada
240
Sparks Street
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1A 0G6
Telephone: (613) 995-3708
Facsimile: (613) 957-0474
E-mail:
communications@oag-bvg.gc.ca
Mr.
George Radwanski
The
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
112
Kent Street
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1A 1H3
Phone (613) 995-8210
Toll-free 1-800-282-1376
Fax (613) 947-6850
E-mail:
info@privcom.gc.ca