Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was privileged to be part of the Caucus Subcommittee on Bill C-68 which has been talked about in this House today. But I want to speak about a specific issue that has come to my attention, as a Member of that committee.

In the course of researching in my constituency the possible impacts of this bill on my constituents, I checked out just how the present provisions of Bill C-17, which is now law, are actually working in my constituency. I've found out that there are very many concerns with the implementation of the presentation legislation, and particularly the more complex process that is now in place for acquiring a firearms acquisition certificate. The form is now four pages long, it has not been translated, it requires two passport-size photos. Now, Mr. Speaker, even in Iqaluit, which is one of the largest communities in Nunavut, it is difficult to get a passport photo and it's very difficult and a real barrier, I know, in smaller communities in Nunavut.

But the biggest concern I have is about the discretion being employed by the RCMP who are taking applications for these FACs when they consider whether they will waive payment of the $50 fee. They are supposed to waive payment of the fee where an applicant is deemed to be hunting for subsistence. Now, Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that it is the practice of the RCMP in Nunavut communities in determining whether they will waive the fee that they will only waive the fee for people who are found to be on welfare.

Mr. Speaker, it was always our understanding that the criteria for deciding who is a subsistence hunter should be whether or not that person holds a general hunting licence. There are many GHL holders who are proud not to be on welfare. They are self-reliant, self-employed people, but they are not always rich and they cannot always afford the $50 fee that is required for this firearms acquisition certification.

---Applause