Why is Minister Goodale Sneaking in a Back-Door Firearms Registry?

On Thursday, April 13, 2017, as many Canadians were making plans to celebrate Easter with friends and family, the Liberal government stealthily slipped in their most recent attempt to monitor law-abiding firearms owners in Canada.

Bill C-47 An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act and the Criminal Code (amendments permitting the accession to the Arms Trade Treaty and other amendments) is simply bad legislation. This Bill not only re-institutes a firearms registry, it also paves the way for implementing the unnecessary and deeply flawed UN Markings protocol. Canada is already one of the leaders with regards to regulations surrounding the import/export of firearms, adding this additional marking will do nothing to improve security but will significantly harm the industry.

This Bill not only expands the scope of the current record-keepers from individuals to include organizations but it also increases the fine for not keeping accurate records from $25,000 to $250,000. No matter how you try to spin this, it is a back-door registry, if records are being kept that can be requested at any time for any reason, it is a back-door registry.

While in government, my Conservative colleagues and I were very proud to be able to scrap the unnecessary and extremely costly Long-Gun Registry. We did this in support of law-abiding firearms owners across the country. Why is Minister Goodale turning his back on so many rural Canadians across the country? Why did he say, “We will not recreate a federal long gun registry,” and then table this blatant attempt to keep records of all Canadians who purchase their firearm legally?

Minister Goodale’s communications director stated, “The government’s made it very clear it’s not going to reintroduce the long-gun registry, it’s about as categorical as we can get.” To categorically deny a new registry and follow up a few short weeks later with what amounts to exactly that is underhanded and deceitful. Time is short, let Minister Goodale know that you don’t want Bill C-47 to be implemented and you don’t want the UN Markings protocol in Canada. Have your voice heard by emailing him at ralph.goodale@parl.gc.ca or calling his office at 306-585-2202 or 613-947-1153.

Bob Zimmer
Member of Parliament
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies