Reid Welcomes Action to Scrap Long-gun Registry

Ottawa – Local Member of Parliament Scott Reid welcomed the new Conservative Government’s announcement of immediate changes to the Canadian Firearms Program, which was delivered recently by Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day.

The new plan begins the process to end the long-gun registry by introducing a one year amnesty to protect previously-licensed owners of unregistered long guns from prosecution, by waiving and refunding license renewal or license upgrade fees, and by shifting responsibility for the Firearms Act from the Canadian Firearms Centre to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“I am pleased to see that our new government is acting quickly to deliver on the promises we made in the election campaign,” Reid stated. “The changes to the Firearms Program will immediately stop punishing responsible long-gun owners for one year while, in the near future, the Conservative Government will table legislation to repeal the registry altogether.”

“Our new government plans to discontinue ineffective programs like the long-gun registry. Instead, we will invest our resources to better protect Canadian families and their communities by putting more police on our streets, funding crime prevention initiatives and supporting the victims of crime.”

The details of the announcement include:

• Transferring responsibility for the Firearms Act and regulations to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), taking over from the former Canada Firearms Centre;
• Reducing the annual operating budget for the program by $10 million;
• Implementing licence renewal fee waivers and refunds;
• Eliminating physical verification of non-registered firearms; and
• Introducing a one-year amnesty to protect previously-licensed owners of non-restricted firearms from prosecution.

Download: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Changes to the Firearms Program. Click Here

For more information or to speak with Mr. Reid
Please call (613) 257-8130 or (613) 947-2277.

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