Here is a quick update about the vote on the long-gun registry.  The House of Commons passed 2nd reading of Bill C-391, a private members’ bill to scrap the long-gun registry by a vote of 164-137.   This does not mean the long-gun registry is dead, but it is dying.

C-391 now goes before a committee of 12 MPs: six Conservatives (one of whom is the chair and votes only in case of a tie) and six Opposition members, all of whom oppose the bill. Usually, this would mean the bill would be totally changed by Opposition members at committee and the Bill C-391 would be rendered useless.  However, because the legislation to scrap the long-gun registry is a private members’ bill, it cannot be substantially altered at committee. Therefore, it is protected from some of the tricks that would normally be employed by the Bloc, Liberals and the NDP.

After Bill C-391 passes committee it will return to the House of Commons for a final vote, and then the process will be repeated in the Senate. The vote in the Senate will be close, but once Parliament resumes in the New Year, there will be more Conservative Senators than Liberal Senators. Even though the Conservative Senators will still be a minority, the Senate will eventually pass the bill.

The process will take time, but the long-gun registry is slowly moving towards its inevitable death.

I’m Brad Trost your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt.  You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.