Debates of Dec. 16th, 1999

Parliamentarians' Code Of Conduct

[John Maloney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise on behalf of the President of the Treasury Board to respond to the hon. member's question.

As the President of the Treasury Board has stated in the past, we are committed to employment equity and need to continue making progress in representation and distribution of designated group members.

We are working toward a federal public service that reflects the population it serves. The government wants to create a workplace of choice and to be supportive of employees' well-being. Recognizing diversity, career aspirations and the learning and developmental needs of employees will lead to better service for Canadians. Further proof of the government's commitment is our continuing investment in this area.

The former President of the Treasury Board established a nine member task force to develop a comprehensive action plan and recommend measures for improving the participation of visible minorities in the federal public service. This initiative will help foster the necessary momentum and commitment to create a new culture in the public service. This is proof of the government's resolve to make the public service of Canada better reflect and respond to Canada's diverse society.

During the fiscal year 1998-99, the government made continued progress in our ability to attract and recruit persons in a minority. While we have made steady progress, we recognize that we need to increase our efforts.

A fund of up to $10 million annually has been set aside for the employment equity positive measures program which has been established to address systemic barriers to recruitment, development and retention of designated group members.

The Treasury Board Secretariat, Public Service Commission and departments and agencies are working in partnership to develop strategies and initiatives to address employment equity challenges and opportunities to achieve tangible results.

[Inky Mark, Reform, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, why does the government put gun registration ahead of putting more police on the streets? This policy of the government has negatively affected my riding of Dauphin—Swan River.

If safe streets are a priority of the Prime Minister, then the government is spending in the wrong places. Let us look at some facts.

Hundreds and hundreds of RCMP positions remain unfilled throughout the country. There are 39 RCMP positions vacant right now in Manitoba. The RCMP training depot in Regina is currently closed. The new government estimates show the spending of $35 million for gun control and only $13.8 million for the RCMP. Where are the priorities of the government?

Canada has had gun control for over 60 years. No one disputes that need. Wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on a wasteful long gun registry is irresponsible. This money would be better used to put more police officers on the street, or used in health and education or in defence.

I want to read for the record some information obtained through access to information by my colleague the member for Yorkton—Melville on the current registry of long firearms in this country.

The registration system has cost more than $300 million so far. Only $2.9 million in user fees were collected in the last six months of operation. Justice department has still not released the registry's budget for this fiscal year. Cabinet secrecy was used to hide 172 pages of documents on true costs of gun registry. On bureaucrats, as many as 800 paper pushers are now working on the firearms registration scheme. The RCMP have diverted resources from law enforcement to employ 391 on the firearms registry.

Statistics Canada reports that 98% of violent crime victims never encounter firearms. Forty-six percent of all murders are committed with handguns despite a 65 year old handgun registry. Criminal incidents have doubled since 1970 but the number of police officers per capita is dropping.

The RCMP report less than 10% compliance. What use will this be to police? Backlogs are increasing despite a 70% lower than expected number of applications.

A consultants' report states that workflow is inflexible and inefficient at the registry. Only 87,825 photo IDs were issued in the first year of operation; only 2.5 million to 6.5 million to go. Only 260,464 registration certificate numbers have been issued; only six million to 20 million to go. The minister's firearms experts say production must increase from 1,500 per day to 13,500 per day.

On the economic impact, cabinet secrecy was used to hide a 115 page report on the economic impact of the registry. There are still legal challenges ahead. Six provinces and two territories are challenging the registry in the supreme court.

In closing, the government is making the streets of Canada less safe through the headstrong drive to register all long guns in this country. When will the government wake up, quit playing politics and fund the RCMP properly instead of wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on useless long gun registration?

[John Maloney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, December 1 marked the first anniversary of the beginning of the implementation of the new firearms legislation. I would like to assure my colleague that contrary to the opinion of some here, this new program is making a real difference, a difference we can measure.

First, it is making a real difference in terms of public safety. The objective of the firearms legislation is to create a culture of safety regarding firearms in Canada and to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them. Looking over the record of the past year, we can plainly see that the program is doing just that.

Stricter eligibility checks on licence holders and applicants is one piece of evidence. Officials have refused 587 new applications for public safety reasons and have revoked 504 licences to individuals who no longer meet the eligibility requirements. This number is significant. It is seven times higher than the total for the past five years. It is a measurement of the success of a new system that provides more information in a timely manner to public safety authorities.

The checking system is also successful in uncovering cases of licence falsification, unauthorized sale of firearms and spousal abuse.

Second, the program is making a difference in terms of what it offers police. The program has provided police services with concrete savings. In fact, there is an annual saving of $30 million because officers no longer have to do the paperwork of accepting applications and issuing licences. This allows police more time to do policing. It certainly does not take police off the streets and it does not reduce municipal, provincial or RCMP police budgets. In fact, the federal government reimburses provinces and other administrators of the system for the work they do in the firearms program.

Then there is the fact that the registry provides vital information to police, information that is invaluable to criminal investigations. It enables police to take preventive measures when responding to emergency calls and to identify guns held illegally.

In fact, Canadians should be proud of the country's firearms legislation. This legislation will make our communities safer. It is unfortunate that the Reform Party refuses to see this fact.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7.15 p.m.)