OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) appeared today before the Federal Standing Committee on Public Safety regarding Private Member’s Bill C-391 to end the wasteful long-gun registry. CTF Federal Director testified on behalf of his organization’s 74,000 supporters to the waste and ineffectiveness of the long-gun registry saying, “it has cost taxpayers well over $2 billion and costs over $106 million per year to support. It is time this waste came to an end”.
The CTF congratulated MPs for the free vote that brought the bill to committee and called for a free vote again in the House at third reading. Gaudet said, “free votes are a privilege that MPs have enjoyed in the past and should continue to in the future. Mr. Ignatieff should change his mind and allow a free vote. Mr. Layton and Mr. Harper should allow the same”.
Regarding the waste of the long-gun registry Gaudet highlighted reports from Canada’s Auditor General, a Research Paper by the Library of Parliament and research by the CBC highlighting:
Parliament was misled about the potential costs of the pogram. MPs were told it would cost $2 million when it has cost $2 billion;
70% of program costs came through Supplementary Estimates meaning it wasn’t budgeted;
Total costs cannot be known because the program does not follow proper accounting procedures and purposefully hid costs in the tens of million of dollars; and,
Direct and indirect costs from the program cost in excess of $106 million per year.
A complete copy of Gaudet’s speech may be found HERE.
