Vic Toews

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, our government did hear that concern expressed by the Government of Quebec. We heard what the Government of Quebec said. We weighed that issue. We indicated very clearly that when we made the commitment to the people of Canada to abolish the long gun registry, what we said is that we would abolish that long gun registry.

What is the registry? The registry is the data. We cannot say that we will abolish the long gun registry but keep it active through the back door. That is simply not appropriate. It would be in breach of our undertaking to the people of Canada.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, the NDP member for the Northwest Territories said in 2009:

My views on the long-gun registry have been pretty consistent over the last four years. We waited for the government to address this for nearly four years.

The member indicated in the Northern News Services that he is “encouraged that this vote has passed and will now go to committee”.

That was in 2009. Members in that caucus are saying, “Let us get on with this”.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, perhaps we could start quoting some of the member's caucus colleagues.

The member for Sackville—Eastern Shore in Nova Scotia said this:

I have had this view since 1995. I have always believed that the gun registry is a failure in principle and a failure in policy, and that we could do much better with different policies.

That is exactly it. Let us get this broken policy behind us and get effective policies reflected in laws that actually target criminals and not honest law-abiding citizens.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, I think I have heard all the arguments that could possibly be made in respect to this bill. The argument essentially boils down to the opposition wanting to criminalize the farmers, hunters and sports shooters in my riding. Having said that, I do not know what the opposition members want to do once they have criminalized them. We know they do not want to send anyone to prison. Hopefully they do not want to send farmers, hunters and sports shooters to prison for this.

The point remains that it is a criminal offence for a decent, law-abiding, ordinary individual not to register a firearm even though that individual is properly licensed to acquire a firearm.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, I am puzzled. The long gun registry was passed pursuant to Parliament's criminal law power. A breach of that provision is a breach of the criminal law. A person who breaches the criminal law and is found guilty is a criminal.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, I have never heard this individual raise this question in the House in terms of the long gun registry. In question period I certainly have not had a question from him on that. If he has not taken advantage of the opportunities to debate the bill over the past number of months, I am somewhat surprised.

As for personal attacks, I find that quite astounding. I have not made any personal attacks. I have simply indicated in response to a question from the NDP member for Surrey North asking what he is supposed to tell his constituents. I said to tell them the truth, tell them exactly where he stands on various issues, including the long gun registry and issues related to penalties against those who would abuse children. He should tell them exactly where he stands.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, he can say to his constituents that he voted in favour of retaining the long gun registry, a registry that in fact criminalizes hunters, sports shooters and farmers and that he wants to see those individuals penalized through the criminal process. He can also tell them that he has consistently voted against measures that would protect victims and that would protect children from sexual predators. Those are the things he can tell them.

It is very clear on the record. He can go back and tell his constituents exactly what he has done in the House.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, I am curious to know when the member thinks she has not had an opportunity to put her position on the long gun registry on the public record here in the House, in committee, or otherwise. If over the years that she has been here she has not been able to express her opinion very clearly on the issue, I would be surprised.

Perhaps we could check the record to see if indeed she has made any comments. If she has not made any comments, all I can say is, where has she been?

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, we made it very clear during the elections in 2011, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1997, and the predecessor parties, that our goal was to abolish the long gun registry, that we are opposed to the long gun registry. That was our platform. When we became government we did not change our platform. We said the things that we ran on as our platform are the things that we are going to implement.

The opposition is saying that it is going to try to delay and stymie the process for as long as possible, that there should be another four years to debate this and then have another election and, indeed, never get this accomplished. I think Canadians understand. The issues are very clear on where the NDP stands. I do not think there is one person in this Parliament who has not already made up his or her mind on this particular bill. That member and that party continue with a charade when in fact they simply do not want the bill passed. They do not want to hear the democratic will. They do not want the bill passed.

[Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, February 7th, 2012]

It is humorous.