Some of these things, I think, may have been assuaged through our meeting. However, I want to point out that these concerns are still on the minds of northern hunters and trappers when they hear what is happening in southern Canada and they hear that there is going to be a restriction on certain areas. They want to be assured that it's not going to have a negative impact on it, because people here use firearms far differently than they're used in southern Canada.
There is a suggestion that there would be an annual fee, like a registration fee, for each gun a person owns. Everybody here in the north knows the average trapper has several guns. They're like tools to the tradesperson. A carpenter has many saws for different jobs. The hunter has different guns for different types of tasks.
I use myself as an example, Madam Speaker. I have several guns which I used in my early years to hunt small game birds and big game, as well. To register them all, to pay a fee for all of them, would be quite negative to northern peoples.
The restriction of the number of guns we would be able to own is of concern. The centralization of firearms, I recognize the fact that it's probably an asinine suggestion to even do that anywhere. Nonetheless, people's fears are in those areas. Many people in my riding have little difficulty in accepting restrictions on certain types of guns such as automatic firing guns and different calibers. There is no need in this territory for owning machine or submachine guns, this type of thing. People recognize that fact. We use them here like a tool, so to have those types of guns around is perhaps not a necessity.
Same with the registration of handguns. They are mainly used for sports. It would not have an adverse impact to register firearms like the law requires at the present time. To use identification to purchase ammunition may be a difficulty in the territories. The use of the documentation that's going to be required to buy shells or cartridges, then to buy guns, again is going to be unmanageable here given the numbers of people who would have difficulty in completing the forms.
I just recently saw documents I had to help individuals fill out just to get the firearms permit. I had difficulty with them, Madam Speaker. And I'm saying to the federal government, if they're listening, take a good look at where these things are going to impact.
Here in the territories, we buy guns at a young age. Perhaps I am speaking again for myself. I will hopefully, like my grandfather did with me, transfer that gun to my namesakes, later on. I have guns that go back almost 50 years. They were handed down from father to son. I would do the same thing.
Madam Speaker, I say again to the Minister, thank you for coming to look at our territories and to listen to our concerns. It is going to be quite helpful in our future input into gun control. Thank you very much.