Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe it is ironic that the regulations for the new firearms act were tabled today because the question
that I have had on the Order Paper for exactly one year concerns that very matter.
On November 27, 1995, I placed Question No. 252 on the Order Paper and, in accordance with Standing Order 39(5)(a), I requested an answer within 45 days.
After 71 days Question No. 252 died on the Order Paper when the government prorogued the House.
I placed the same question on the Order Paper again when the new session opened on February 27, 1996. It was renumbered as Question No. 4. Once again I asked for a response from the government within 45 days. As of today Question No. 4 has been outstanding for 274 days. The question has been on the Order Paper for one year.
Why is it so imperative that we have an answer? The firearms regulations have been tabled. The government is pretending that they are a matter of public safety. The question that I asked was fundamental to that. It is Question No. 4 on the Order Paper. Anybody can look at it. It wants to get from the government information with regard to stolen firearms from the police and from the military. It is really fundamental to all that we are discussing here.
If they cannot safely store their firearms, if they are at risk because criminals know where to access those firearms, the very regulations which the minister is putting forth now will create that same situation but nationwide. Criminals will then know where to access those firearms. If we as common citizens place that information in the public domain, how can we possibly store them any better than the police or the military? That is why my question is so important.
In a democracy, in government as we have it in Canada today, if that information is not readily available and accurate for the public to examine, how can we possibly put forth laws which will improve public safety? How do we know those are the best laws we can have in this country?
That is why it is so imperative that I get an answer to my question. It is not a complicated question. I realize that my frustration shows by the fact that I cannot get an answer. We have to have open and accountable government. That is why I am asking for the government, as quickly as possible, to answer that question. I would even settle for a partial answer. I have appealed to the government to give me any information it has on this matter.