>>> Coalition <cgc.montreal@gmail.com> 1/4/2010 10:32 AM >>>
Dear Coalition for Gun Control’s Friends,

As you know the Prime Minister has prorogued parliament until March 3, 2010. With prorogation, all government legislation dies and has to be reintroduced. Many of our supporters were hoping that this would apply to Bill C-391 which passed second reading in the House of Commons November 4, 2009. Unfortunately, Private Member's bills are NOT affected and will be automatically reinstated on March 3, 2010.

Bill C-391 (repeal of the long-gun registry) will be in front of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security when the House of Commons resumes. We urge those interested to submit a brief to the committee or appear as witnesses to contact us.

Bill C-391 proposes to end the long-gun portion of the registry, eliminating the need to register rifles and shotguns. The requirement to register handguns would remain in place. Remember firearm registration is a one-time only procedure (a form to fill) that:

  • makes gun owners accountable for their firearms and enforces the licensing provisions of the law. Furthermore, registration makes it more difficult for straw purchases to occur, as well as illegal sales by legal gun owners.
  • is an essential tool used by police when taking preventive action, and enforcing prohibition orders. It is the system police use to ensure that all firearms are removed from an individual’s possession when the situation warrants it.
  • helps police investigations. Two men were identified and convicted as accessories to the murder of 4 RCMP officers in Mayerthorpe, Alberta, in part because a registered gun was left at the scene of the crime.
  • allows police to differentiate between legal and illegal firearms. Without information about who owns firearms legally and the firearms they own, police cannot charge individuals with illegal possession.
  • allows police to trace firearms easily, thus facilitating further investigations into smuggling.
  • reduces the chances that legal guns will be diverted into illegal markets.


Members of Parliaments will be in their riding for the next few months. It is a good time for them to hear from or meet with people in their ridings.We know e-mails are easier but MPs tell us they only get calls from the gun lobby, so please take the extra time to call them, tell them your story and why you care. The phone number of your MP is available at: www.parl.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-O-CANADA.



Remember:

  • All guns are lethal and any gun in the wrong hands is dangerous.
  • Gun control works. Health and safety experts have advocated that stronger gun laws have reduced gun related death.
  • While there are more guns in rural areas and the west, as well as more opposition to gun control, there are also higher rates of firearm death and injury, often involving rifles and shotguns.
  • The gun lobby is a well financed group that has close ties with the Conservative. The gun lobby does not speak for all Canadians.
  • The opponents continue to invoke the costs of the registry, but the RCMP have clearly stated that dismantling the registration of rifles and shotguns will at most save $3 million a year, less than the cost of a complex murder investigation.
  • Twenty years after the Montreal massacre, the families of the victims consider the Firearms Act a monument to the memories of their daughters, their sisters. Controls on the Ruger Mini 14 used to kill 14 young women should not be weakened.


Thank you very much!



The Coalition for Gun Control
Public sector unions in Canada and Europe alarmed by proposed trade deal Canadian public sector unions along with the European Federation of Public Service Unions release study arguing that the deal is fundamentally flawed. Ottawa (11 Jan. 2010) - Canada ’s largest public sector unions and their European counterparts are expressing serious concerns about the proposed trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), along with the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), today released a study arguing that the deal is fundamentally flawed and a thorough rethinking of the whole approach to international trade is needed (click here for report). “We are excited about the level of cooperation and consensus that we were able to develop on this issue; essentially all the biggest public sector unions in both Canada and the EU are of a common mind on these negotiations,” said NUPGE's national Secretary-Treasurer Larry Brown. "When we started to look at what was known about the proposed agreement a lot of alarm bells started going off on both sides of the Atlantic,” added Brown. “As we got further into the research it was apparent that we shared a lot of the same concerns about the process and what was being negotiated." The unions highlight five major concerns with the proposed agreement:
  • a full evaluation of the social, environmental and labour impacts of the proposed agreement has never been completed;
  • the negotiations are taking place outside of public scrutiny and there is a need for greater transparency of the process;
  • the public needs assurances that the proposed agreement would not interfere with the right of governments to regulate in the public interest, protect existing public services or create new public programs;
  • it is important that the agreement not contain a provision like Chapter 11 in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which allows an investor or private company to challenge laws or regulations of a government that is a party to the trade agreement, and receive financial compensation; and
  • the agreement must not force governments to open public procurement to foreign companies.
“There must be a thorough evaluation of the possible effects of the proposed agreement before the talks go any futher,” said Penny Clarke, an officer with the EPSU. “The only evaluation done so far has been a very one-sided business oriented study with a very narrow focus." "As well we are demanding full transparency,” explained Clarke. “In past trade negotiations, the public has been kept completely uninformed until the full agreement is reached and then presented with a fait accompli. This is simply unacceptable.” Canadian and European officials began negotiating a 'Canada-European Union - Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement' in the summer of 2009. Many analysts expect that it will be an extensive agreement to integrate Canada ’s economy with the European Union. The talks, described as involving “deep economic integration negotiations”, are expected to go beyond the scope of traditional agreements such as NAFTA. As well as encompassing unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, the aim of the “comprehensive economic and trade agreement” (CETA) will be to also include free movement of skilled people and an open market in government services and procurement. The trade agreement would cover everything from public services to agriculture to copyright laws. The unions intend to raise these critical issues with the federal, provincial and municipal governments in Canada , and with the EU and EU member states in Europe . As well the unions will be working with allies and other organizations to bring as much force as possible to bear on the negotiating governments to take these concerns into account. To read the full report click here. The authors of the report:
  • Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has 600,000 members across Canada representing workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines.
  • European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) represents some 8 million public service workers from over 250 European trade unions,
  • National Union of Public and General Employees’ (NUPGE) 340,000 members work to deliver public services of every kind to the citizens of their home provinces. NUPGE also has a large and growing number of members who work for private businesses.
  • Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents 165,000 members across Canada and also maintains an international profile through its representation of members who work abroad in embassies and consulates.
For more information: NUPGE The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada 's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE