THUNDER BAY – It is a move that rural residents for the most part should welcome. Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that a re-elected Conservative Government will introduce legislation to scrap the long-gun registry once and for all, and establish a hunting and wildlife advisory panel to ensure that government decisions are based on sound science and balanced advice.
Prime Minister Harper pointed out the Government’s strong record of support for law-abiding farmers and hunters. “Our Government has long opposed the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry,” Harper said. “We must stop targeting law-abiding gun owners, and instead focus our resources on real criminals. That’s why a re-elected majority Conservative Government will scrap the wasteful and inefficient long-gun registry once and for all.”
“To date, the Conservative Government’s efforts to end the long-gun registry have been blocked in Parliament by the Michael Ignatieff-led Coalition with the Bloc Québécois and NDP. Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner’s bill to end the long-gun registry was defeated by two votes,” according to the Conservatives. “Coalition MPs — including those representing rural ridings — voted with their party leadership, which is out of touch with small and rural communities. They voted against the interests of their constituents”.
Harper observed that Canadians face a real choice on this issue. “The Ignatieff-led Coalition has consistently opposed our Government’s efforts to crack down on real criminals while insisting on heaping penalties on law-abiding citizens,” the Prime Minister noted. “Only a majority Conservative Government can be counted on to scrap the long-gun registry.”
The Prime Minister also announced his plan to create a new hunting and wildlife advisory panel comprised of representatives from hunting, fishing and conservation organizations. “Today, I am announcing that a re-elected Conservative government will create a hunting and wildlife advisory panel. This wildlife advisory panel would be comprised of representatives from various hunting, angling and conservation organizations, like Ducks Unlimited, to ensure government decisions regarding issues like endangered species, wetland protection and nature conservation are based on solid science and balanced advice,” said Prime Minister Harper. “We are the party that stands with rural Canada and understands your values and your way of life.”