These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
More Money Wanted
Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville,
Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, today the justice minister is going
to come to Parliament and ask for another $170 million for the gun
registry. That is unbelievable. Just yesterday for the umpteenth time the
justice minister refused to tell us the total cost of the gun registry for
all federal departments.
How can he possibly expect any parliamentarian to approve more money when
he has no idea as to what the total cost will be? In fact, he cannot even
tell us what has been spent so far.
Hon. Martin Cauchon (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of
Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the question is interesting knowing that I
spent two hours at the beginning of the week at the public accounts
committee and I do not remember the hon. member asking the question.
One thing is for sure. If members look at the support that we have had
from the Canadian population since the tabling of our plan of action,
people know that we are going exactly in the right direction. People know
as well that gun control does make a difference in our society. People
know that the program has already delivered some very good benefits for
the Canadian population.
Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville, Canadian Alliance): Mr.
Speaker, we now know what the minister means by cash management and
running the registry at minimum levels. It has been spending $1 million
per day since Parliament pulled the $72 million out of the gun registry
budget in December. That is what it is, $1 million per day.
Why does the minister have nothing but contempt for the House and Canadian
taxpayers?
Hon. Martin Cauchon (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of
Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Canadian taxpayers know exactly that we
are doing the right thing for Canadian society.
How could we convince the member of Parliament knowing what he said in a
press release back in 1995? I will repeat it. The member said:
Gun controls will not improve public safety, it will put the public at
more risk. Gun control will not reduce violent crime, it will increase
violence.
He should talk to the victims associations from across Canada and to
police associations that are supporting gun control. We are doing what is
right for our Canadian society.
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