STATEMENT FROM WARD 5 CITY COUNCILLOR BONNIE CROMBIE WITH RESPECT TO THE ABOLITION OF THE FEDERAL LONG-GUN REGISTRY

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-ONTARIO-December 14, 2011-Today at Mississauga City Council, I moved a motion to encourage the Ontario government to preserve the long-gun registry and save the valuable data already collected from being eliminated. The motion passed unanimously and in a recorded vote read as follows:

Whereas on October 25, 2011, the Minister of Public Safety introduced Bill C-19, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and Firearms Act (ending the Long-gun Registry Act and requiring the destruction of the existing information);

And whereas the Peel Regional Police, among many other agencies and organizations as well as individual citizens, believe that the long-gun registry is an important tool in preserving the safety of citizens and officers in their day to day duties;

Now therefore be it resolved that Council of The Corporation of the City of Mississauga requests the federal government to reconsider the proposed legislation or at a minimum permit the provinces to retain the information currently in the registration database. That a letter be sent to the Prime Minister transmitting this resolution with copies to the MPs and requesting them to support and a response from them as to the action they are prepared to take on this issue.

I am passionate about this issue as I fail to see the federal government’s rationale for abolishing a registry that Peel Regional Police use on a daily basis and Chiefs of Police across the country have lobbied to preserve. The Conservative government’s decision to abolish the registry and eliminate all of the records is not only short-sighted, but irresponsible and will put the lives of Mississaugans at risk.  The registry is accessed by law enforcement officials over 17,000 times a day and long guns are often the weapon of choice in the majority of suicides and in many incidents of domestic violence.

I was inspired to put forward the motion following a presentation by Motilall Sarjoo, President, Brampton-Mississauga & District Labour, Council, Gogi Bhandal, Canadian Labour Congress and Gwen Campbell, Women's Chair of CAW Local 1285 about the need and importance of the long-gun registry in community safety.  I am proud to support the firearms registry and those like the CAW, the CLC and the Brampton-Mississauga & District Labour Council, among many others, who are strongly advocating for its preservation. 

I urge the Premier of Ontario to follow the government of Quebec’s lead and take steps to preserve the existing data and establish a provincial registry.  We all have to register our cars, our homes and our pets, among many other things, so why should we not register our firearms, which are weapons that can kill?  The registry is supported by police associations, chiefs of police, victim and health groups, women’s organizations and suicide prevention groups across the country.  It should be supported by the government as well. 

Community safety is a paramount concern in my Ward 5 community and I will continue to do everything in my power to pursue initiatives that ensure that law enforcement officials have all the tools necessary to keep our community safe.