Money Better Spent on Cops

Mr. Rob Merrifield (Yellowhead, CPC): Mr. Speaker, in my hometown a 22-year-old woman was selling crystal meth. She was attacked by a sword-wielding 17-year-old high on this addictive drug. Two lives were ruined.

When the minister is voting on the additional $80 million for the firearms registry tonight, he should consider that the money would add one additional police officer to every one of the 308 constituencies for five years. This would go a long way to combat illegal drugs.

How does the government justify wasting money on a gun registry, when the money is needed for the front line crime fighters?

Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, as I have said, our gun control program is an important part of public safety. In relation to the hon. member's question, we have a national drug--

The Speaker: Order, please. It is impossible to hear the Deputy Prime Minister give her answer. I know she doubts it when I suggest that members want to hear the answer, but we have to try to get order somehow. I would urge hon. members opposite her to remain a little more quiet, so we can all hear her answer. Some members may want to hear it.

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we have a new national drug strategy which has a number of different components. Clearly, we need an education component, a prevention component, and an enforcement component.

I have talked to law enforcement officials across the country about the challenge of crystal meth. In fact, the RCMP is working with local police forces across the country in an integrated way to see what we can do to prevent--

The Speaker: The hon. member for St. John's South—Mount Pearl.

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