2. NATIONAL FIREARMS REGISTRY - BILL C-68 registre national des armes à feu - projet
de loi c-68 |
Whereas the federal
government committed to the taxpayers of Canada that the National Firearms
Registry for long guns under Bill C-68 would cost no more than $2 million
dollars; and
Whereas the Auditor
General’s Report submitted to Parliament on December 3, 2002 determined that
the minimum cost of the federal firearms registry for long guns will exceed $1
billion dollars; that a recent administrative review by a consultant for the
Justice Department verified that the gun registry will cost an additional $541
million before being fully implemented, and another $1 billion to operate; and
that these spending estimates do not include the cost of associated programs;
and
Whereas the Canadian
Taxpayers Federation has recently announced that they believe that the firearms
registry for long guns will cost the taxpayers of Canada at least $2 billion;
and
Whereas the Auditor General
of Canada determined that the Justice Department has consistently failed to
provide both the Members of Parliament and the Auditor General with accurate
information regarding cost overruns of the registry; and
Whereas the government has
failed to provide any conclusive or verifiable evidence that the registration
of long guns is preventing crime or keeping guns out of the hands of criminals;
and
Whereas the money spent on
the firearms registry for long guns would have provided MRI’s for every
hospital in Canada, or provided for the hiring of at least 10,000 police
officers; and
Whereas municipalities
across Canada are in dire need of funding assistance to assist with the
provision of local services including public transit, the maintenance of local
infrastructure such as roads, bridges, sewers, hospitals, and local law
enforcement; and
Whereas eight Provinces,
three Territories, numerous police associations, police chiefs and police
officers across Canada have withdrawn their support of the firearms registry for
long guns; five recent public opinion polls have demonstrated that a majority
of Canadian taxpayers support the abolition of the firearms registry in favour
of spending on other national priorities; and that six provinces are refusing
to prosecute charges associated with the firearms registry;
Therefore,
that Council requests Parliament to retain the licensing component of Bill
C-68; to strengthen the sentencing and penalties associated with the use of a
firearm in the commission of a crime; and abolish the unworkable national
firearms registry for long guns and redirect the tax dollars being spent on the
registry to programs in support of municipal infrastructure, health care,
education, and local law enforcement.
Attendu que le gouvernement fédéral s’est engagé auprès des
contribuables canadiens à ce que le registre national des armes à feu pour les
armes d’épaule en vertu du Projet de loi C-68 ne coûterait à l’État pas plus de
2 millions de dollars;
Attendu que le rapport du vérificateur général présenté au Parlement le
3 décembre 2002 précisait que le coût minimum du registre national des armes à
feu pour les armes d’épaule dépassera 1 milliard de dollars, qu’un récent
examen administratif effectué par un conseiller du ministère de la Justice a
attesté que le registre coûtera 541 millions de dollars additionnels avant même
d’être entièrement mis en place, puis 1 milliard de dollars de plus pour
l’entrer en vigueur, et que ces dépenses estimées ne comprennent pas les coûts
des programmes liés au projet;
Attendu que la Fédération canadienne des contribuables a annoncé
récemment qu’elle estime que le registre national des armes à feu pour les
armes d’épaule coûtera aux contribuables au moins 2 milliards de dollars;
Attendu que le vérificateur général du Canada a établi que le ministère
de la Justice ne fournit jamais aux députés et au vérificateur général les
renseignements exacts sur le dépassement des coûts liés au registre;
Attendu que le gouvernement n’a pas réussi à fournir une preuve
concluante ou vérifiable attestant que l’enregistrement d’armes d’épaule permet
de prévenir les crimes ou la possession d’armes chez les criminels;
Attendu que l’argent consacré au registre national des armes à feu pour
les armes d’épaule aurait pu servir à acheter des appareils IRM pour tous les
hôpitaux du pays ou à embaucher 10 000 agents de police;
Attendu que les municipalités des quatre coins du pays ont un besoin
urgent de financement pour aider à assurer des services publics dans leur
communauté, y compris le transport en commun, l’entretien de l’infrastructure
locale comme les routes, les ponts et les égouts, ainsi que le maintien de
l’ordre public;
Attendu que huit provinces et trois territoires, un grand nombre
d’associations de policiers, de chefs de police et d’agents de police au Canada
ont retiré leur appui au registre des armes à feu pour les armes d’épaule; cinq
sondages d’opinion ont établi que la majorité des contribuables canadiens
appuient l’abolition du registre des armes à feu et souhaitent que le
gouvernement dépense pour d’autres priorités d’ordre national; et que six
provinces refusent d’intenter des poursuites liées au registre des armes à feu;
Par conséquent, le Conseil municipal demande au
Parlement qu’il conserve l’élément d’octroi de permis du Projet de loi C-68,
qu’il rende plus sévères les peines et pénalités liées à l’utilisation des
armes à feu pour commettre un crime et qu’il abolisse le registre national des
armes à feu pour les armes d’épaule, qui est irréalisable, et qu’il réoriente
l’argent des contribuables dépensé pour le registre dans les programmes
appuyant l’infrastructure municipale, les soins de santé, l’éducation et le
maintien de l’ordre public.
Documentation
1.
Councillor’s report dated 7 July 2003
(ACS2003-CCS-RUR-0006).
2. Extract
of Draft Minutes, 21 July 2003.
Report to / Rapport au:
and Council / et au Conseil
Submitted by / soumis par : Councillor / Conseiller Eastman
580-2475, Dwight.Eastman@ottawa.ca
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Ref N° :
ACS2003-CCS-RUR-0006 |
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SUBJECT: |
NATIONAL
FIREARMS REGISTRY – BILL C-68 |
|
OBJET: |
REGISTRE
NATIONAL DES ARMES À FEU – PROJET DE LOI C-68 |
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
Whereas the federal government committed to the
taxpayers of Canada that the National Firearms Registry for long guns under
Bill C-68 would cost no more than $2 million dollars; and
Whereas the Auditor General’s Report submitted to
Parliament on December 3, 2002 determined that the minimum cost of the federal
firearms registry for long guns will exceed $1 billion dollars; that a recent
administrative review by a consultant for the Justice Department verified that
the gun registry will cost an additional $541 million before being fully
implemented, and another $1 billion to operate; and that these spending
estimates do not include the cost of associated programs; and
Whereas the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has
recently announced that they believe that the firearms registry for long guns
will cost the taxpayers of Canada at least $2 billion; and
Whereas the Auditor General of Canada determined
that the Justice Department has consistently failed to provide both the Members
of Parliament and the Auditor General with accurate information regarding cost
overruns of the registry; and
Whereas the government has failed to provide any
conclusive or verifiable evidence that the registration of long guns is
preventing crime or keeping guns out of the hands of criminals; and
Whereas the money spent on the firearms registry for
long guns would have provided MRI’s for every hospital in Canada, or provided
for the hiring of at least 10,000 police officers; and
Whereas municipalities across Canada are in dire
need of funding assistance to assist with the provision of local services
including public transit, the maintenance of local infrastructure such as
roads, bridges, sewers, hospitals, and local law enforcement; and
Whereas eight Provinces, three Territories, numerous
police associations, police chiefs and police officers across Canada have
withdrawn their support of the firearms registry for long guns; five recent
public opinion polls have demonstrated that a majority of Canadian taxpayers
support the abolition of the firearms registry in favour of spending on other
national priorities; and that six provinces are refusing to prosecute charges
associated with the firearms registry;
THEREFORE the Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee recommends Council request Parliament to retain the licensing
component of Bill C-68; to strengthen the sentencing and penalties associated
with the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime; and abolish the
unworkable national firearms registry for long guns and redirect the tax
dollars being spent on the registry to programs in support of municipal
infrastructure, health care, education, and local law enforcement.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Attendu
que le gouvernement fédéral s’est engagé auprès des contribuables canadiens à
ce que le registre national des armes à feu pour les armes d’épaule en vertu du
Projet de loi C-68 ne coûterait à l’État pas plus de 2 millions de dollars;
Attendu
que le rapport du vérificateur général présenté au Parlement le 3 décembre 2002
précisait que le coût minimum du registre national des armes à feu pour les
armes d’épaule dépassera 1 milliard de dollars, qu’un récent examen
administratif effectué par un conseiller du ministère de la Justice a attesté
que le registre coûtera 541 millions de dollars additionnels avant même d’être
entièrement mis en place, puis 1 milliard de dollars de plus pour l’entrer en
vigueur, et que ces dépenses estimées ne comprennent pas les coûts des
programmes liés au projet;
Attendu
que la Fédération canadienne des contribuables a annoncé récemment qu’elle
estime que le registre national des armes à feu pour les armes d’épaule coûtera
aux contribuables au moins 2 milliards de dollars;
Attendu
que le vérificateur général du Canada a établi que le ministère de la Justice
ne fournit jamais aux députés et au vérificateur général les renseignements
exacts sur le dépassement des coûts liés au registre;
Attendu
que le gouvernement n’a pas réussi à fournir une preuve concluante ou
vérifiable attestant que l’enregistrement d’armes d’épaule permet de prévenir
les crimes ou la possession d’armes chez les criminels;
Attendu
que l’argent consacré au registre national des armes à feu pour les armes
d’épaule aurait pu servir à acheter des appareils IRM pour tous les hôpitaux du
pays ou à embaucher 10 000 agents de police;
Attendu
que les municipalités des quatre coins du pays ont un besoin urgent de
financement pour aider à assurer des services publics dans leur communauté, y
compris le transport en commun, l’entretien de l’infrastructure locale comme
les routes, les ponts et les égouts, ainsi que le maintien de l’ordre public;
Attendu
que huit provinces et trois territoires, un grand nombre d’associations de
policiers, de chefs de police et d’agents de police au Canada ont retiré leur
appui au registre des armes à feu pour les armes d’épaule; cinq sondages
d’opinion ont établi que la majorité des contribuables canadiens appuient
l’abolition du registre des armes à feu et souhaitent que le gouvernement
dépense pour d’autres priorités d’ordre national; et que six provinces refusent
d’intenter des poursuites liées au registre des armes à feu;
Par conséquent, le Comité chargé de l’agriculture et des questions rurales recommande au Conseil municipal de demander au Parlement qu’il conserve l’élément d’octroi de permis du Projet de loi C-68, qu’il rende plus sévères les peines et pénalités liées à l’utilisation des armes à feu pour commettre un crime et qu’il abolisse le registre national des armes à feu pour les armes d’épaule, qui est irréalisable, et qu’il réoriente l’argent des contribuables dépensé pour le registre dans les programmes appuyant l’infrastructure municipale, les soins de santé, l’éducation et le maintien de l’ordre public.
BACKGROUND
Bill C-68 introduced a number of valuable provisions
pertaining to gun ownership. For
example, few people would argue with new regulations pertaining to the safe
storage of all guns and ammunition, tougher penalties for those using a firearm
in the commission of a crime, or additional restrictions on the ownership of
fully automatic weapons.
However, the requirement
that every law abiding Canadian who owns a hunting rifle or shotgun must
register it is not only a tremendous financial waste, but it serves no purpose. It is highly unlikely that criminals are
registering their weapons.
City Clerk to forward the Motion to the Prime
Minister, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General and all Ontario
municipalities.
NATIONAL FIREARMS REGISTRY - BILL C-68
ACS2003-CCS-RUR-0006
Councillor Eastman explained that the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters circulated this motion to Ontario municipalities and that 130 municipalities have supported it. He pointed out that the only real modification was to replace the reference to “all police associations” in the 8th recital to “numerous police associations”.
Councillor Eastman reported that this program has been a financial boondoggle, with costs rising to over $1 billion dollars. He noted that since the introduction of similar legislation, Great Britain and Australia have not seen any reduction in crime but rather an increase in crime.
Councillor Eastman explained that the intent of the motion is to re-direct the money to the municipalities. He added that the Federal and Provincial governments have balanced their books on the backs of municipalities, but there is only one taxpayer.
Moved by Councillor D. Eastman:
Whereas the federal
government committed to the taxpayers of Canada that the National Firearms
Registry for long guns under Bill C-68 would cost no more than $2 million
dollars; and
Whereas the Auditor
General’s Report submitted to Parliament on December 3, 2002 determined that
the minimum cost of the federal firearms registry for long guns will exceed $1
billion dollars; that a recent administrative review by a consultant for the
Justice Department verified that the gun registry will cost an additional $541
million before being fully implemented, and another $1 billion to operate; and
that these spending estimates do not include the cost of associated programs;
and
Whereas the Canadian
Taxpayers Federation has recently announced that they believe that the firearms
registry for long guns will cost the taxpayers of Canada at least $2 billion;
and
Whereas the Auditor General
of Canada determined that the Justice Department has consistently failed to
provide both the Members of Parliament and the Auditor General with accurate
information regarding cost overruns of the registry; and
Whereas the government has
failed to provide any conclusive or verifiable evidence that the registration
of long guns is preventing crime or keeping guns out of the hands of criminals;
and
Whereas the money spent on
the firearms registry for long guns would have provided MRI’s for every
hospital in Canada, or provided for the hiring of at least 10,000 police
officers; and
Whereas municipalities across Canada are in dire need of funding
assistance to assist with the provision of local services including public
transit, the maintenance of local infrastructure such as roads, bridges,
sewers, hospitals, and local law enforcement; and
Whereas eight Provinces,
three Territories, numerous police associations, police chiefs and police
officers across Canada have withdrawn their support of the firearms registry
for long guns; five recent public opinion polls have demonstrated that a
majority of Canadian taxpayers support the abolition of the firearms registry
in favour of spending on other national priorities; and that six provinces are
refusing to prosecute charges associated with the firearms registry;
Therefore
be it resolved that the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommends
Council request Parliament to retain the licensing component of Bill C-68; to
strengthen the sentencing and penalties associated with the use of a firearm in
the commission of a crime; and abolish the unworkable national firearms
registry for long guns and redirect the tax dollars being spent on the registry
to programs in support of municipal infrastructure, health care, education, and
local law enforcement.
CARRIED