Gun program head will follow MPs' direction
Last Updated: Thursday, August 19, 2010 | 3:17 PM ET
CBC News
The new director of the Canadian Firearms Program says he believes the current program "has contributed to officer and public safety," but he will "respect and follow any future direction" provided by Parliament.
RCMP Chief Supt. Pierre Perron says he will respect and follow the will of Parliament on the future direction of the Canadian Firearms Program. (RCMP)RCMP Chief Supt. Pierre Perron's first public statement as director-general of the firearms program came Thursday, a day after the Mounties confirmed the removal of his predecessor, Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak.
Cheliak was a vocal supporter of the federal long-gun registry — a program the Conservative government has denounced as wasteful and is trying to abolish.
Perron said that while the RCMP administers the firearms program, it is up to Parliament to decide about the program's specific parameters.
"The RCMP is running the program as currently mandated by Parliament, and will respect and follow any future direction provided by Parliament," he said.
Before his quiet removal, Cheliak was set to unveil a major report before the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police at its annual general meeting in Edmonton and receive a president's award for his work on the long-gun registry.
Liberals want Cheliak reinstated
But the RCMP announced on Wednesday that Cheliak "does not currently meet the linguistic requirements" of the position he was given nine months ago and would be on leave before heading to French-language training.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper insisted Cheliak's removal was not a political decision, despite opposition MPs' claims his ouster fits the Conservative government's "pattern" of dealing with dissent.
But the Liberals have called for Cheliak's reinstatement and condemned what they say the latest example of political interference to remove watchdogs and public servants who speak truth to power.
Speaking at a news conference Thursday to unveil a slideshow of the Conservatives' "enemies list" — Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay said the Tories "want puppets, not professionals."
Ignatieff orders whipped vote
The House of Commons is considering Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner's private member's bill to scrap the registry. A key vote on whether it will proceed is likely to be held early in the fall session.
In an earlier House vote during the last parliamentary session, Hoeppner's bill passed with support from several Liberals and New Democrat MPs. But Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has designated the next vote on the bill a whipped vote, which means those who don't vote with the party will face disciplinary measures.
In an appearance Thursday in Miramichi, N.B., home to the Canadian Firearms Program's national processing centre, the prime minister noted Hoeppner's bill has been supported by a majority of MPs so far.
But NDP justice critic Joe Comartin has accused the government of trying to quash the former director's report and silence defenders of the registry ahead of the vote.
Comartin has said he fears there will not be enough opposition votes to defeat the bill, but added the New Democrats will not whip the vote.
Corrections and Clarifications
- Chief Supt. Pierre Perron's prepared statement says he believes the Canadian Firearms Program "has contributed to officer and public safety." An earlier version of this story reported the statement as saying he believes the long-gun registry "has contributed to officer and public safety." The registry is part of the Canadian Firearms Program. Aug. 19, 2010 | 3:15 p.m. ET
