Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of the Members of the Legislative Assembly the proclamation dates that have been announced by the federal Minister of Justice.

The legislation received Royal Assent on December 5, 1995. Despite the many attempts made by the Government of the Northwest Territories and other concerned territorial and provincial governments, the legislation was passed without any of our concerns taken into consideration in the form of amendments.

The federal government has stated that the legislation will be proclaimed into law in various stages.

The regulations for the Firearms Act are presently being developed. The federal government is expecting to have regulations which relate to the proclamation dates tabled in Parliament February 1996. Regulations which deal with aboriginal issues are also expected to be tabled in Parliament mid-February 1996. A Policy and Regulation Committee, made up of chief provincial firearms officers from British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Quebec along with representatives from the RCMP and the federal Firearms Task Force, will work towards the development of the regulations of the Firearms Act.

The federal government has appointed a number of individuals to a firearms user advisory group. The group is made up of a cross-section of Canadians from the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Yukon and the Northwest Territories along with a federal National Aboriginal Advisory Committee, made up of aboriginal representatives from British Columbia, Quebec and New Brunswick, to work with the Firearms Task Force in the development of the regulations. The purpose of their involvement is to try to ensure that aboriginal and treaty rights are respected and that traditional lifestyles of aboriginal people can continue.

The Safety Education Committee, made up of chief territorial and provincial firearms officers from the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and a representative from the federal Firearms Task Force, will work towards the required modifications to the Canadian firearms safety course. This committee will also work towards the development of a firearms safety course which will meet the needs of aboriginal people. It is the intention of the federal government to have all firearms safety course material ready by a mid-1996 training course proclamation date. We have serious concerns about whether the deadlines can be met.

When the remaining portions of the act are proclaimed, citizens will have to examine their current practices involving the use of firearms and ammunition. My officials will continue to work with federal officials to reduce, to the extent possible, the adverse impact on traditional lifestyle.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government will be providing information to the public with regard to the requirements of the new gun control legislation. Thank you.

---Applause