The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-02-18, Page 10• • Page 10 - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, February 18, 2009 . • Lobb supports motion to axe decade -old long -gun registry BY TROY PA1TERSON Kincardine News Staff _ Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb has put his support behind a motion to axe the decade -old Canadian long -gun registry and believes it will spell relief forrural residents, farmers and hunters. Lobb jointly sec- onded the motion brought forward in Bill C-301 after Saskatchewan MP Garry Breitkreuz introduced the Private Members Bill on Feb. 9. "It was an hon- our for me to -sec- ond it, with Huron - Bruce being such a large agricultural riding," he said. Lobb said the evidence of the law's failure is the inflation of the project's cost from $2 million, to $2 billion a decade later. Even former Huron -Bruce Liberal MP Paul Steckle was against the registry, which represents the "substantial majority of Huron - Bruce residents who would rather see the law scrapped. "Unfortunately that money has been spent, when it could have been used to put more police on the .streets, or into research or (crime) prevention," he said, adding increased border security would also help prevent weapons entering the country,from the United States: Lobb said he supported Breitkreuz because of his experience working on the registry and research into point- ing out its failures. "The registry is a political pacifier created to give the impression that Canada would be safer for it," Breitkreuz said in a media rease. "Nothing coul be further from he truth.. I believe Canadians would • rather' see their tax dollars keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and gangs instead of trying to control law-abiding . citi- zens." If the bill becomes _ law, the Auditor Genejal al will be invitdf to conduct a -public safety test on established gun control measures every five years. These reports will provide informa- tion on reducing violent crime and improving public safety. "It will be a good day for outdoors- man, hunters and fanners if • it's passed," Lobb said, adding he's encour- aged to hear that free votes on the issue will most likely be allowed by both the New Democratic Party and the Liberals. The bill also introduces: legisla- tive steps to streamline the Firearms Act, designed to improve efficiency and enhance Canada's public safety objectives, 'while providing enough informa- tion to aid law enforcement offi- cials. From a gun deal- er and owner's per- spective, Brad Thomas of Underwood's Lake Huron . Rod and Gun said most gun owners would pre-. fer to see it gone. Although ; it was a "bureaucratic nightmare" for his ouncii endorses recommendations for Historical B'Y REATH Clinton News - Record Staff Council endorsed recommendations to approve grants to the Huron County Historical Society, which was seeking $4,000 for $8,000 historical -notes publications, and Brian Jeffray for 35 West Limited, ask- ing $5,000 for a $16,050 facade hi related news, the county's director ~of cultural services submitted a revised Huron. Heritage Fund policy that stipulates • applica- tions for funding can only be approved if they are received : before the project occurs, that grants are valid for 12 months from the date of approval by council and that applications are eli- gible to receive one grant per fiscal year. The new criterion for heritage -build- ing projects also requires that build- ings must either have a heritage des- ignation, a conver- sation easentent or a historic -site desig- n a t i o n Furthermore, the policy requires funds be used pri- marily for work which _ restores or reconstructs origi- nal heritage resources. Furthermore, the new wording req, wires applicants to repay the grant. if an asset that has received funding is sold within five years of the grant allocation. County council endorsed the revised policy. New iiiedical officer of health • There's a new act - mg Medical Officer of Health for Huron County. Council learned that Dr. Sean Ryan, COMMUNITY GROUPS / SPORTS TEAMS / SERVICE CLUBS WORD 0f. MOUTH M{[DA BO�ST? Oct your message out yuu t:.,31'1 get jet ,yt information to ;hoti`1,-111(ds;i of v1f;trrer;s right i.1ti' dy This free setv:ce gives you th power tc, showcase hlog3. announcements, news releases, events and much much more, 1ere's your invitation to get the .von out to lots of. -people on the net locally! Whether you're a sports organization looking at posting league results, or a service club with a community announcement, you can now post it on one of the best viewed sites in your community. 1v As a trusted community partner you will be able to • moderate your own content and present it live to the online community, you'll be able to post blogs, discussion forums, event calendars, photo galleries and videos. • Online Vide •. Photo ;Galleries • Discussion f orums vent Calendar • II ogs • Ev•nt Postings I�R,4w View, submit, participate! Interacting with your community business to deal with when it was first implemented, it has been stream- lined over the years. "It's running just about as rtsmooth as it could get," said Thomas. "Sales are good, people have adapted, but I per sonally would wel- come the closure: It really doesn't work and it's a pain in the arse. He said anyone who looks to pur- chase a gun . must have a firearms license, which requires a criminal background check to be verified and ociet training courses to : ' be completed• before anyone is approved. They also, have to be renewed every five years and are easily accessible to police if required. Licensing alone prevents guns from being in the wrong hands, Thomas said, adding that if criminals or drug dealers want firearms, they're not going to take the legal route. Lobb is hoping the bill will be dis- cussed in th spring, before par= liatnent breaks for summer. of: South .. Huron hospital in Exeter, Will take over the medical officer's duties until ` a full= tune replacement for Dr. Beth Henning, who r+eslgned •tri. 2008, is Ryan replaces acting medical offi- cers of health D. Graham Pollen and Dr. Bryna Warshaw of . the Middlesex -London Health Unit. The pair agreed to fill in temporarily but stated They could not continue in the role past February 2009. Waived fee The County of Huron is waiving the plumbing per- mit fee in response to a Clinton Public Hospital Foundation request for a renovation for relief to benefit a project under way at . Clinton Medical Centre. The Foundation is funding a renova- tion that will see a suite' created in the basement of the centre to accommo- date visiting doctors to cover mostly weekend . emer- gency shifts at Clinton Public Hospital. • The p Foundation also. hopes to attract doc- tors toassist the overwoi*ed local "doctors • in their practices. Board of health news Council learned Jacqueline Hart is assuming the man- agement of the Strengthening Families Team for the county. Hart, a University of Western Ontario graduate, possesses a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a Bachelor of Education Meanwhile, Shelly - Ann Hall will be joining the county as its epidemiolo- - gist. She graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Science. Later, she went on to study another Bachelor's degree at York in Health Studies with a minor in Health Infomatics. She also graduated in 2003 from the University of London England,..• with a Master ' of Science Epidemiology.