Mr. Speaker, January 1st, 2003 is quickly approaching. A date that should be of interest and concern to all Northerners who possess guns, as all guns must be registered by January 1st. To add to the concern, the offices of the Canadian Firearm Centres both in Yellowknife and Hay River have closed. What does this say about the federal government's commitment to ensuring timely access to information and services?

The Canadian Firearm Centre has indicated that it is preparing to send out reminder letters to hundreds of thousands of gun owners who have yet to register their firearms. They are encouraging gun owners to register via the telephone or Internet. Mr. Speaker, not all residents have access to telephones or to the Internet. Not all residents understand what consequences of not registering their guns might be. Not all residents retain English or French as their first language. Not all residents can read or write, and not all residents have access to someone who will assist them with the registration of their guns.

Penalties for not acquiring a licence can result in fines, imprisonment and seizure of guns. Possession of non-registered guns can lead to charges under the Firearms Act or the Criminal Code. Our correctional institutions are already filled. Are we willing to build more jails? Maybe this would serve as an opportunity to argue for more infrastructure dollars from the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, this whole process directly contravenes both Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 where the government promised that ammunition would be distributed annually to the Dene. The Firearms Act itself states that nothing in the Act shall be construed as to abrogate or derogate from any existing aboriginal or treaty rights of the aboriginal people of Canada under Section 35 of the Constitutional Act, 1982. These arguments are important to many of our constituents, yet we allow them to be slowly eroded.

Mr. Speaker, during question period I will ask this government this question -- what action and support is this government willing to provide to those aboriginal people and all the residents of the Northwest Territories to ensure they do not start the New Year as criminals due to failure to register their guns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause