NEWS RELEASE

November 8, 1996		  				       	

For  Immediate  Release

ALLAN ROCK'S PROPOSED FIREARM FEES WILL KILL THOUSANDS OF JOBS

"People will be shocked at this new tax on every aspect of the firearms 
industry."

Ottawa - Today, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville released a 
confidential copy of the tables of new firearms fees and challenged 
Justice Minister Allan Rock to keep his promise that his new gun control 
measures in Bill C-68 would not hurt the firearms industry.  "Firearms 
manufacturers, dealers, collectors, tourism outfitters and firearm owners 
have all informed me that the fees proposed by the Minister will 
effectively destroy the viability of many businesses and kill thousands 
of jobs across Canada," revealed Breitkreuz.  "After having looked at 
the five pages of fees myself, I can only say that people will be shocked 
at this new tax on every aspect of the firearms industry."

"On February 16, 1995 the Minister of Justice said in the House of Commons, 
"We should acknowledge and respect the history and tradition of hunting, 
not only as a favourite pastime in many parts of Canada but as a very 
important economic activity contributing directly to the prosperity of 
a number of regions throughout Canada."  When Breitkreuz asked Allan Rock 
to reassure workers who depend on the firearms industry that his new fees 
will not result in any job losses or have any negative economic impact 
on the industry, he would give no such assurance and attacked Breitkreuz 
and the Reform Party for asking the question.

"One of the few remaining firearm manufacturers in Canada who exports 
over 50,000 rifles a year and employs between 50 and 75 workers contacted 
me this week," said Breitkreuz.  In the tables of fees given to him 
Wednesday, by Justice Department officials, his annual fees would have 
increased from $850 to over $242,000.  Today, officials tell him that 
the new fees will be $15,000 a year.  Wednesday's firearms tax would have 
put this Ontario manufacturer out of business and all his employees out 
on the street.  Friday's fee proposals will just kill some of his business 
and force some of his employees onto the unemployment lines," reported 
Breitkreuz.  "I find it truly alarming that a government that professes 
to be trying to boost exports of Canadian made goods would impose an 
export tax on firearms.  I also find it hypocritical of the government 
to give $87 million to Bombardier with the pretext of helping a developing 
industry and then impose onerous taxes which will kill the firearms 
industry -talk about discrimination!"

"This new tax against firearms owners, dealers, manufacturers, collectors, 
museums, the movie industry, shipping companies, and hunters from the 
United States will effectively kill a vibrant industry worth billions to 
the Canadian economy," predicted Breitkreuz.  Environment Canada found 
that in 1991 hunting activity alone contributed $2.76 billion to the 
Canadian economy. (Source: Statistics Canada - Catalogue 11-509E - Human 
Activity and the Environment 1994). "Hunters coming from the United States 
will be forced to pay $50 for a temporary firearms licence every year.  
This will effectively stop thousands of tourists from coming to Canada.  
It's sad when we live in a country where even the Minister of Justice 
doesn't keep his promises."

-30-

For a copy of the tables of proposed Firearm Fees please call:

Yorkton:  (306) 782-3309

Ottawa:	 (613) 992-4394

OTHER PROMISES FROM ALLAN ROCK

Hansard (page 9707) - February 16, 1995: "We should acknowledge and 
respect the history and tradition of hunting, not only as a favourite 
pastime in many parts of Canada but as a very important economic activity 
contributing directly to the prosperity of a number of regions throughout 
Canada."

Hansard (page 9707) - February 16, 1995: "We must acknowledge and respect 
the use of firearms for ranching or hunting [I think he meant farming 
here] purposes where firearms are a tool, an implement used by the 
proprietor of a business to get by.  We must allow for that.  We must 
not interfere with that unduly."

Hansard (page 9707) - February 16, 1995: "May I say as well that we must 
acknowledge that some people enjoy collecting firearms.  Some people 
enjoy the shooting sports.  Indeed, Canada has achieved distinction 
internationally through the skill of those athletes who train and excel 
at sport shooting.  We must acknowledge and respect that interest and 
that skill.  But those legitimate interests, while they are acknowledged 
and respected, must be carried out in a context that is consistent with 
public safety."

Hansard (page 7809) - November 15, 1994: "Should the decision be to 
proceed with a system of registration it will only be on the basis that 
such a system can be established through a reasonable outlay of capital 
costs, that such system will be reliable in terms of storing and retrieving 
information and that such a system would involve an expense to the firearm 
owner that was reasonable."


NOTE:  If you have documented any similar promises Allan Rock made during 
his "consultations" with law-abiding, responsible firearm owners or during 
the debate of Bill C-68, please send a copy to: 

Garry Breitkreuz, MP (Yorkton-Melville) House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario 
K1A 0A6