Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak in support of this particular motion. There are several areas of the proposed gun control legislation that I have problems with. This bill, Mr. Speaker, interferes with the northern way of life. Northerners share what they have with each other and work together as communities. This also extends to our firearms. Shotguns and rifles are often lent from friend to friend, from family member to family member. Mr. Speaker, this bill will turn this simple gesture of friendship into a potential criminal act. In the north, people have close ties to the land. Many people from an early age learn about firearms and begin to use them often as part of hunting and trapping. It is part of their lifestyle, Mr. Speaker. This legislation is restrictive on young people using firearms. We will break the law teaching our young family members to hunt with us if this legislation gets passed.
Mr. Speaker, the legislation does not recognize the vast size and scattering of communities which make up the Northwest Territories. Rather than a made-in-the-north safety training program which recognizes the uniqueness of the Northwest Territories, this legislation lumps us in with the rest of Canada. The concept of trying to deliver a southern-style safety package across the north seems very expensive and next to impossible.
Fees, Mr. Speaker, will be required for both registration of all firearms and for individual licensing. Those in the north who live a traditional lifestyle and are likely to have a number of firearms usually don't have a great deal of disposable income available for paying fees. This is a concern which needs to be addressed in the setting of the fees.
One good economic opportunity in the north is outfitting, Mr. Speaker. Much of the business comes from other countries. This legislation even threatens to negatively impact on this industry, as there are increased restrictions on the transportation of firearms and ammunition. In fact, Mr. Speaker, ammunition in general is going to cause a lot of problems. In smaller communities when constituents call me, I go to the store here in Yellowknife and purchase ammunition and send it back out to them. With the proposed legislation, that will be a criminal act and I can be prosecuted for it.
Mr. Speaker, the penalties included in this legislation are very severe. While we all want to have penalties which discourage criminals, the scope of this legislation ensures that many innocent northerners will become potential criminals and subject to these penalties. This legislation has sections which will impact on the thousands of firearm owners in this country. I cannot even begin to imagine the bureaucracy which will be required for just licensing, registering and monitoring compliance. In this age of deficit slashing, it seems to be a huge potential expense we cannot afford.
When the federal Minister of Justice, Mr. Allan Rock, was here in the fall, Mr. Speaker, we all stressed that our concerns about gun control be adhered to. We raised a number of concerns, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe that he listened to our concerns. None of the issues we've addressed as being important to northerners have been addressed in this legislation. During our meeting with Mr. Rock, it was suggested that for the key areas of concern in the north, there be exemptions for Northwest Territories residents. This would simplify the administration of the act in the Northwest Territories for both the federal government and the residents. I again, Mr. Speaker, repeat the need for exemptions on key clauses of this bill for northerners and I hope that it is one of the messages we take to the committee reviewing this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this motion. I hope it will help send our message to the federal government and that, this time, they will listen. Mahsi cho.
---Applause