Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been in the discussion with Ken Hudson, the Metis president from Fort Smith, also a very avid and capable hunter. He has been attempting to take advantage of the federal amnesty to register weapons, which ends today. He has been telling me that the 1-800 number is clogged with calls. You can’t get through. When you go on the Internet, there are enough forms to choke a mule. The concern, Mr. Speaker, is I know this is a federal program, but my question to the Minister of Justice is, is there any way that representation could be made to the federal government? Mr. Hudson is of the opinion that he is not the only one, that he thinks a considerable number of aboriginal gun owners aren’t going to be able to register their guns. They are not going to make amnesty. I just wanted to ask the Minister if there was any way he could make the case that there is going to be a bunch of people left out through no fault really of their own? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 99-15(6): Federal Gun Registry

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wasn’t aware that there was a concern with the crush of number of people trying to get in and register their firearms. What I will do and propose to do is, the minute we are finished here in the House, I will call Stockwell Day’s office, the Minister responsible for Public Safety, make the case, let him know that we are having difficulty here and appeal to him to either find some way to extend this or put more resources into accommodating the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.