Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I expressed my outrage at the sham consultations undertaken in my constituency by the federal firearms task force. Several things said by the members of that task force to my constituents were disturbing to me. Firstly, the federal representatives told my constituents that they were committed to consulting on section 110(t) of the proposed Firearms Act. They also stated that the detailed consultations will happen this fall. The implication was, don't worry if you're feeling a little

rushed today, there will still be lots of time to obtain your input this fall.

Mr. Speaker, section 110(t) allows for the making of regulations: "respecting the manner in which any provisions of this act or the regulations applies to any of the aboriginal peoples of Canada and adapting any such provision for the purposes of that application." Mr. Speaker, the federal Minister of Justice has already stated publicly in introducing this bill to the House of Commons committee that all the substantive provisions of the bill will apply to aboriginal people and that, in effect, the regulations will only allow for minor modifications in how the bill is implemented in aboriginal communities.

One example that federal officials trot out regularly is that an aboriginal person may be appointed to be a firearms officer for the purposes of registering firearms in a community. As if any aboriginal person would want that job. Compulsory registration will still be required of every firearm. The regulations may allow a local person to get the job instead of a bureaucrat.

It's very important that our people understand, Mr. Speaker, that this bill amends the criminal law. It is very clear that the criminal law cannot be amended by regulations, certainly not in the manner being suggested by the task force. It's also very important that our people know that the federal government intends to ram this bill through the House before the summer recess. According to Mr. Rock's timetable, the new bill will be law by the time the firearms task force comes back to consult my constituents this fall.

When these officials told my constituents they'd be further consulted in the fall, they did not point out that, according to their agenda, it would then be too late to make any substantive changes to the bill.

May I have consent to briefly conclude, Mr. Speaker?