John Murphy

[Firearms Act, June 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to debate the third group of amendments regarding Bill C-68, an act respecting firearms and other weapons. I also want to thank my hon. friend from Carleton-Charlotte for seconding the amendments I have put forth. Within this block I have moved four motions for debate today, Motions Nos. 4, 76, 92 and 154.

Judging by the level of debate in this House, in the media and among Canadians generally, this legislation undoubtedly is one of the most important bills presently before the House. I am honoured therefore to rise today to speak on this motion on behalf of my constituents of Annapolis Valley-Hants.

Over the past year I have consulted widely with people in my constituency. Whether at public rallies, through regular correspondence or during many conversations with concerned individuals, I have maintained a regular contact with over 1,500 people on the firearms issue alone. The series of amendments I have brought forward represents the culmination of this consultation process. The amendments represent the views I have heard from many of my constituents. I feel that if adopted they will make the bill stronger and more acceptable to a large majority of firearms owners.

Before outlining the details of these amendments, I want to clearly state that I intend at the end of the day to support Bill C-68. I believe the majority of the provisions in this bill will achieve our government's stated goal in improving public safety on the streets and in our homes. Certainly I am not alone in this regard. The vast majority of Canadians have expressed support for the crime control elements of Bill C-68. Initiatives including stiffer penalties for illegal importation and trafficking of firearms as well as cracking down heavily on those who use firearms in the commission of crime will indeed improve security on our streets.

In discussions I have had with my constituents, a common theme has consistently emerged. Many individuals have serious concerns with the mandatory registration of all long guns. The motions I have introduced reflect this concern. They are also a reflection of my absolute commitment to represent the views of the people of Annapolis Valley-Hants. I have promised from day one to work to address their problems with this bill and to bring forward realistic solutions in order to mitigate these concerns.

The overall objectives of this series of motions is quite simple. As I proposed in my written submission to the justice committee, I support amending the legislation in order to exempt owners of non-prohibited, non-restricted long guns historically used in Canada for hunting or sport shooting from licensing and registration provisions of Bill C-68. Any new purchases or transfers of existing firearms would be subject to the requirements outlined in the legislation.

This proposal offers a reasonable balance between the rights of legitimate owners and users of firearms and our government's commitment to strong, effective firearms legislation. We have an opportunity to send a positive message to Canadians that we understand historical, cultural and economic attachments that have governed the use of firearms to this point in time. However, we will also be sending an important message that times are changing. In keeping with legitimate public concerns, new generations of firearms owners will be subject to new rules.

Within this series of motions I would like to highlight two which are of particular importance. Motion No. 4 would add new clause 2(1) to the bill. This clause reads:

This act does not apply in respect of

(a) any firearm that is not a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm; or

(b) any ammunition that is not prohibited ammunition.

This motion would allow for an exemption from the licensing and registration components of the bill for current owners of long guns.

By supporting the inclusion of this clause, all members of the House will have a chance to acknowledge the legitimate rights of owners of long guns. It will ensure that these individuals will not be subject to undue burden or costs without weakening the crime control elements of the legislation. It will allow us to gain greater support or at the very least, tacit acceptance of Canada's gun owners. After all, without their acceptance or their willingness to comply with the new laws we may face problems enforcing this legislation.

The second motion I would like to briefly discuss is Motion No. 154. This motion would entail the adding of new clause 110.1 to the legislation. This clause reads:

Notwithstanding section 2.1, the governor in council may make regulations that are applicable in respect of firearms that are not prohibited or restricted firearms for the purpose of

(a) establishing minimum age and safety criteria for purchasers of firearms;

(b) establishing safe storage and handling standards for firearms; and

(c) regulating the exportation and importation of firearms.

This additional clause responds to concerns over the ability to determine whether or not a long gun is owned and operated in a safe and legal manner. It has been included to ensure that officials have the ability to establish and enforce certain standards that must be strictly adhered to in order to legally own a long gun. This is not unlike the present system that uses the FAC.

Through this amendment, the government will have the opportunity to implement through the regulations a means to ensure the safe and legal ownership of long guns. Any regulations would of course have to remain consistent with clause 2.1 which provides for the exemption of long guns from the licensing and registration components of the bill.

I am pleased by the changes made to the bill during the committee hearings. These changes do reflect many concerns which have been brought forward by legitimate gun owners. I would also like to applaud my hon. colleagues who have worked so diligently on this legislation.

I would now ask my colleagues, as well as the Minister of Justice, to support the measures I have brought forward for debate today. While we have certainly come a long way in our deliberations, I believe we must go further still.

These motions represent a modified course of action, a course that will in my opinion help gain the support of many firearms owners. By adopting this series of motions, I believe we will still achieve the overall intent of the legislation without adding to the overall bureaucracy or cost. Above all, we will develop a bill that addresses the concerns of all people on all sides of this issue.

[Firearms Act, June 12th, 1995]

moved:

Motion No. 154

That Bill C-68, be amended by adding after line 26, on page 57, the following New Clause:

"110.1 Notwithstanding section 2.1, the Governor in Council may make regulations that are applicable in respect of firearms that are not prohibited firearms or restricted firearms for the purpose of a ) establishing minimum age and safety criteria for purchasers of firearms; b ) establishing safe storage and handling standards for firearms; and c ) regulating the exportation and importation of firearms.''.

[Firearms Act, June 12th, 1995]

moved:

Motion No. 92

That Bill C-68, in Clause 59, be amended by replacing lines 26 to 28, on page 32, with the following:

"firearms, restricted firearms, cross-bows, prohibited weapons,".

[Firearms Act, June 12th, 1995]

moved:

Motion No. 76

That Bill C-68, in Clause 45, be amended by replacing lines 16 and 17, on page 28, with the following: c ) in the case of a restricted firearm or a restricted weapon,''.

[Firearms Act, June 12th, 1995]

moved:

Motion No. 4

That Bill C-68 be amended by adding after line 11, on page 4, the following new Clause:

"2.1 This Act does not apply in respect of a ) any firearm that is not a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm; or b ) any ammunition that is not prohibited ammunition.''

[Petitions, June 7th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition signed by constituents of Annapolis Valley-Hants.

The petitioners call on Parliament to put an end to discriminatory treatment in Canada by amending the human rights act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

[Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival, May 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, from May 25 to May 28 I will join with constituents of Annapolis Valley-Hants in celebrating our annual Apple Blossom Festival.

This celebration signals the end of winter and offers the promise of a new growing season. Since the first festival in 1933 there have been many changes in apple production. However, one thing has not changed: the wonderful sight and breathtaking scent of apple trees in full bloom.

This festival draws people from near and far. It is an opportunity to showcase the beauty of Annapolis Valley and the warmth and generosity of the people who live throughout my riding.

I ask all members in the House to join me in congratulating all the people who volunteer their time to make this event so special. They should truly be proud of their efforts.

[National Nurses Week, May 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am wearing a pin to honour Canada's 263,000 registered nurses during this, National Nurses Week. This year's

theme, "Your Families' Health-Nurses Make the Difference", will allow us to focus on the valuable contribution nurses make to the overall health of Canadians.

Nurses play a vital role in providing care and support for families while assisting them in making meaningful choices during challenging times. As well, nurses provide information and assistance in health promotion, illness prevention and during periods of illness and recovery.

I have spent 30 years in the public health field. I know firsthand the important role nurses play. I am therefore honoured to rise today to offer my thanks to all those individuals who chose nursing as a career. Through their efforts they truly make a positive impact on the health of Canadians.

[Agriculture, May 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak on the motion before the House. I want to thank the member for Moose Jaw-Lake Centre for bringing this motion forward.

My riding of Annapolis Valley-Hants is the home of a large and diverse agricultural and agri-food sector. I am always pleased, therefore, to have the opportunity to discuss what our government is doing to support this important sector.

I believe all members of the House would agree that the hon. member's commitment to eliminating overlap and duplication in the agricultural sector is a good thing. While I believe this motion is well intentioned, I also believe it is unnecessary.

The hon. member wants to launch negotiations to reassign jurisdictional responsibilities. Canada's Constitution makes agriculture a joint responsibility of the federal and provincial governments. I believe this is one of the areas where flexible federalism is working.

Since 1867 the federal government and the provinces have developed a culture of co-operation. While the Constitution does not specify certain areas as federal and others as provincial, governments have learned, however, to work together without treading on each other's toes.

One area where this has worked well is in trade and market development. While international trade is strictly a federal responsibility and would remain so under the proposed motion, this government recognizes the value of working with the provinces to promote exports of agriculture and agri-food products.

In my riding of Annapolis Valley-Hants, I am pleased to say there is a strong and ever growing value added sector. The processing of hogs, chickens, fruits, and vegetables can be found in a number of my communities. Our government has an important role to play in helping them uncover new market opportunities.

The best way to expand our markets and reach our potential is through co-operation, both with the provinces and the respective industries.

We believe that there is no need to open the Constitution to address these issues of jurisdictional responsibilities. Instead, we must work with our provincial colleagues and focus on innovation and market development. This co-operation takes many forms.

When the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food travelled to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil in March, high level representatives of three provincial governments travelled with him. These joint missions allow the federal government to promote the entire Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector. At the same time, the provinces pursue specific opportunities for their own industries.

We saw another example of two levels of government working together in the final days of the GATT negotiations. Provincial representatives were in Geneva helping reach the draft agreement. Immediately afterwards the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food convened a meeting with our provincial colleagues to plan how we could meet our obligations.

Federal and provincial representatives worked very closely in the following months on the task force on orderly marketing led by the parliamentary secretary. Thanks to their willingness to work together for the common good, our supply managed sectors are moving forward to meet the challenges of the new trade regime.

Another example of this co-operation can be seen in the export targets established for this sector. The industry set for itself a target of $20 billion in agri-food exports by the year 2000. Federal and provincial ministers of agriculture accepted that target and agreed to help each other reach it. They added a further target of regaining Canada's traditional 3.5 per cent share of the global agri-food trade. Reaching this goal would boost our exports to $23 billion annually.

However, setting the goal was the easy part. For our next steps the federal government will continue to work with industry and with the provinces. We must work to provide the programs and initiatives that industry has told us it needs to take advantage of so as to develop new market opportunities. To this end, the department's priorities in the area of trade for the next three years will include a number of initiatives.

We will negotiate further trade access with countries such as Israel and Chile through the NAFTA. As well, we will work with countries such as China through the GATT expansion.

Our government is committed to creating the Canada agri-food marketing council. This will allow the industry to effectively advise government on how best to support exports in achieving their targets.

We will create an agri-food trade service to provide single-window access and market development services. Our government is also committed to consolidating existing market and trade development programs into a single streamlined Agri-food 2000 program. I believe this program will greatly assist industry in its export efforts.

We are working to provide producers and processors with timely information about international markets through a new

agri-food trade network. In doing so, we want to help businesses make better and more informed decisions.

A key priority will be the setting up of the agri-food credit facility. This facility will provide credits worth up to $1 billion for exporters of grain and other agri-food products to offshore private sector buyers. This in turn will help Canadian producers continue to compete effectively and efficiently in the export markets.

By working in tandem with the provinces to achieve these initiatives, our government is committed to helping the agri-food sector reach its export targets. Now is not the time to work at cross purposes with the provinces and debate jurisdictional issues. Now, however, is the time to foster even greater federal and provincial relations. In doing so, our agricultural and agri-food sector will only get stronger.

I again thank the hon. member for bringing this motion forward for debate. I certainly do not question the hon. member's commitment to eliminating inefficiencies and overlap in this important sector. However, I believe we can achieve our goals through federal-provincial co-operation rather than reassigning jurisdictional responsibilities.

[V-E Day, May 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 8 Canadians will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of V-E Day.

I am honoured to rise today to pay tribute to our veterans. I am especially proud to recognize the many veterans who live in my riding of Annapolis Valley-Hants. I look forward to joining them on Monday to commemorate this momentous occasion.

For our military personnel, for our merchant marines, for our medical teams that worked on the front lines and for all those Canadians who contributed to the home front I am sure I speak for all my colleagues when I offer my deepest gratitude for their sacrifices.

On this occasion, I ask all Canadians to stop and reflect, to say a prayer of thanks for those who risked their lives and for those who died to preserve freedom. We are truly indebted to all of them.