Firearms Registry Speech

May 04, 2009

Hon. Jim Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC): 

   Mr. Speaker, how can the NDP members say they are standing up for their constituents?

   The member for Western Arctic said he would vote against the gun registry because the majority of the residents of the Northwest Territories wanted the registry abolished.

   The member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River said, “I am very pleased to tell the House that, for eight years since the turn of the century, my constituents have told me that we need to get rid of the long-gun registry”.

   The member for Timmins—James Bay said, “It was never set up to deal with the realities of northern Ontario”.

   The member for Winnipeg Centre said, “I wouldn't want one more penny to go to that gun registry”.

   Yet, they all voted in favour of the registry. How can members of the NDP say they will vote against something then sit on their hands or oppose it? How can the NDP members say that they are standing up for their constituents?