cuchulainn
February 26, 2003, 07:32 PM
http://www.canada.com/stcatharines/story.asp?id=8E8CB7BB-BFC1-4156-9395-A6BC649A6C90
Liberals to pour another $172 million into federal gun registry
STEPHEN THORNE
Canadian Press
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government is poised to pour another $172 million into the bloated gun registry after Justice Minister Martin Cauchon asked Parliament on Wednesday to approve the funding for past and future expenses.
The new money would bring total spending on the program - originally supposed to cost taxpayers just $2 million - to nearly $1 billion. The funding request includes $59 million for bills that have been piling up since the Liberals withdrew a request for gun registry cash in December. The other $113 million is for operations in the next fiscal year.
It's not clear when the Liberal-dominated House of Commons will vote on the issue, but Cauchon said: "The sooner we can have a vote on it, the better it's going to be."
He said he did not anticipate much resistance from fellow Liberals, many of whom have publicly criticized the government's handling of the registry.
Cauchon said the system is working and it's time to move forward with the new, restructured program.
He said the money is being spent on things like administration and technology.
"As a society, we're starting to see the benefits of gun control and we have a strong plan of action," he said. "Licensing is behind us, registration is nearing completion as well.
"So in the future when we talk about gun control, it's going to be about management - managing the existing program, which is good."
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper said there has been a "flurry of announcements, but still no explanation of how much this registry is going to cost to implement, and how much it will cost to run each year after that."
"Spouting platitudes and blowing billions of dollars on a registry does not amount to gun control," he said.
The gun registry will be administered, starting April 1, by Solicitor General Wayne Easter, who is also responsible for the RCMP.
The new cash requests kickstarted another round of debate in the Commons - and within the Liberal caucus.
Alliance MP Garry Breitkreuz called the new money "unbelievable" given the cost overruns.
"Just yesterday, for the umpteenth time, the justice minister refused to tell us the total cost of the gun registry for all federal departments.
"How can he possibly expect any parliamentarian to approve more money when he has no idea as to what the total cost will be? In fact, he cannot he tell us what has been spent so far."
The government has rejected calls to ditch the program, saying gun control is necessary to ensure public safety. But it is trying to deflect criticism of the cost overruns by reforming management of the system.
"Until Canadians are given some clear answers about where this money is going, there is no way that the Liberals should be proceeding with this program," said Harper.
Meanwhile, representatives of victims of gun violence were on Parliament Hill urging MPs to back the registry.
Families of victims of gun crime and public health organizations urged government not to put money ahead of the right thing in the registry debate.
"I am alarmed that the voices of the victims of gun violence are being drowned out by the controversy over costs," said Steve Sullivan, president of the Canadian Victims Resource Centre.
"The majority of Canadians continue to support this law in spite of the costs, but the vocal opponents seem to be dominating the media and the political agenda."
Sullivan pointed to six inquests where the juries called for a gun law that includes both licensing and registration.
"There are legitimate concerns raised about management and transparency but the government is moving to address these problems."
© Copyright 2003 The Canadian Press
Liberals to pour another $172 million into federal gun registry
STEPHEN THORNE
Canadian Press
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government is poised to pour another $172 million into the bloated gun registry after Justice Minister Martin Cauchon asked Parliament on Wednesday to approve the funding for past and future expenses.
The new money would bring total spending on the program - originally supposed to cost taxpayers just $2 million - to nearly $1 billion. The funding request includes $59 million for bills that have been piling up since the Liberals withdrew a request for gun registry cash in December. The other $113 million is for operations in the next fiscal year.
It's not clear when the Liberal-dominated House of Commons will vote on the issue, but Cauchon said: "The sooner we can have a vote on it, the better it's going to be."
He said he did not anticipate much resistance from fellow Liberals, many of whom have publicly criticized the government's handling of the registry.
Cauchon said the system is working and it's time to move forward with the new, restructured program.
He said the money is being spent on things like administration and technology.
"As a society, we're starting to see the benefits of gun control and we have a strong plan of action," he said. "Licensing is behind us, registration is nearing completion as well.
"So in the future when we talk about gun control, it's going to be about management - managing the existing program, which is good."
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper said there has been a "flurry of announcements, but still no explanation of how much this registry is going to cost to implement, and how much it will cost to run each year after that."
"Spouting platitudes and blowing billions of dollars on a registry does not amount to gun control," he said.
The gun registry will be administered, starting April 1, by Solicitor General Wayne Easter, who is also responsible for the RCMP.
The new cash requests kickstarted another round of debate in the Commons - and within the Liberal caucus.
Alliance MP Garry Breitkreuz called the new money "unbelievable" given the cost overruns.
"Just yesterday, for the umpteenth time, the justice minister refused to tell us the total cost of the gun registry for all federal departments.
"How can he possibly expect any parliamentarian to approve more money when he has no idea as to what the total cost will be? In fact, he cannot he tell us what has been spent so far."
The government has rejected calls to ditch the program, saying gun control is necessary to ensure public safety. But it is trying to deflect criticism of the cost overruns by reforming management of the system.
"Until Canadians are given some clear answers about where this money is going, there is no way that the Liberals should be proceeding with this program," said Harper.
Meanwhile, representatives of victims of gun violence were on Parliament Hill urging MPs to back the registry.
Families of victims of gun crime and public health organizations urged government not to put money ahead of the right thing in the registry debate.
"I am alarmed that the voices of the victims of gun violence are being drowned out by the controversy over costs," said Steve Sullivan, president of the Canadian Victims Resource Centre.
"The majority of Canadians continue to support this law in spite of the costs, but the vocal opponents seem to be dominating the media and the political agenda."
Sullivan pointed to six inquests where the juries called for a gun law that includes both licensing and registration.
"There are legitimate concerns raised about management and transparency but the government is moving to address these problems."
© Copyright 2003 The Canadian Press