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Canadians encouraged to e-mail, fax and phone MPs in advance of critical Commons vote on Bill C-391.
Ottawa (20 Sept. 2010) – The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is encouraging its members and all Canadians to take action to preserve the federal long gun registry.
NUPGE is among numerous unions who have added their support to women’s organizations, women’s shelters and transition houses and chiefs of police across the country who are opposing the passing of Bill C-391. If passed, the bill would dismantle the long-gun registry and destroy nearly eight million firearm records used by police and other law enforcement officials.
The reasons to maintain the registry are many. Since it was established spousal deaths by guns have been reduced by half, making the registry one of the most concrete measures taken by Parliament to reduce violence against women.
Police across Canada use the registry records over 10,000 times a day to keep our communities safe and to protect themselves on the job.
The Conservative MPs are supporting C-391, a private bill introduced by Conservaive MP Candice Hoeppner, even though the House of Commons committee that reviewed the bill has produced a motion recommending that it not proceed.
The Liberal caucus has stated that all its MPS will vote against the bill, including eight members who previously supported it.
The NDP has been divided on the issue but in recent weeks several MPs have changed their stance.
NDP MPs Carol Hughes, Malcom Allen, Claude Gravelle, Charlie Angus, Peter Stoffer and Glenn Thibeault – who were among 12 New Democrats previously supporting the bill – have announced that they have changed their position and will be voting against C-391.
“I want to congratulate the NDP MPs who have chosen to change their position on Bill C-391,” says NUPGE national president James Clancy.
“It is our hope that more NDP colleagues will join with these members to vote down this bill. Stephen Harper’s acrimonious campaign to ram through this legislation and the removal of Chief Superintendent Marty Cheliak as head of the Canadian Firearms Program are clear examples of the Conservative’s agenda to silence its opposition," Clancy notes.
"The Conservative argument that the registry is a $1 billion waste is simply not true. The money has already been spent to establish the registry and to dismantle it now would be a true waste of taxpayers’ dollars.”
The House of Commons votes Wednesday on a motion that will either stop Bill C-391 or give it another chance to succeed.
NUPGE is encouraging everyone to e-mail, fax or phone his or her MP and urge them to vote to preserve the long-gun gun registry and and maintain public safety. Click here to get your MPs contact information.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE