Over the last few columns I have discussed the firearms program and, this week Minister Day announced changes to the program. This issue is most important with my constituents and I want to ensure that you are kept well informed.

The Government of Canada is focusing on combating the criminal use of firearms and supporting gun control measures that work and this program is designed to strengthen public safety and facilitate compliance with the Firearms Act.

Since 2004, more than 100,000 Possession-Only Licences (POL) have expired. Under the regulations enacted by the previous Liberal government, they were not renewable. Our Government has amended the Firearms Licences Regulations to enable eligible persons whose POLs have expired to apply for a new one up until May 16, 2009.

The three measures (amnesty, fee waiver and the ability to apply for a new POL) are complementary and will be in effect until May 16, 2009.

The Conservative Government is introducing legislation to repeal the requirement to register long-guns and reducing administrative requirements for law abiding firearms owners.

These changes will:

• Extend the current fee waiver for licence renewal or upgrade;
• Continue amnesty for individuals with expired licences or in possession of unregistered non-restricted firearms who are taking steps to bring themselves into compliance; and
• Enable eligible persons with expired POL to apply for a new one within one year.
  

We are committing $14.2 million over two years to enhance the screening of 20,000 new firearms licence applicants each year in order to prevent firearms from ending up in the wrong hands. As well as enacting the Tackling Violent Crime Act which increases mandatory jail sentences for serious and repeat firearm offenders and provides tougher bail rules for serious weapon-related offences.

These new legislative measures recently came into force on May 1, 2008. For more information on this law, and when it comes into effect, please visit the Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC) at http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca You can also notify the CFC of an address change or verify they have your correct address on this site.

If you have any questions, please contact my Constituency Office in Cranbrook (250) 417-2250 or 1-800-668-5522