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The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-07-26, Page 5DRIVER, EDUCATION CiassraOr .Certi ri;Cate Courses 5' Days ONLY Jury 31. to. August 4, 1995 9:00 a.m. - 3:1.5 p.m. Josephine St. 1CIIf7llaf1] 357-4472 1Nin152nham 1-800-361-2941 WEip,NESI4Y, JULY26,1995 Justice Minister responds to OIpO:flefltS ALeraL AI4 ROCK firearm might give police a useful vide the classic example of this :. ee Minister a us ace" lead in the investigation of other phenomenon. One woman is shot to crimes death every six days in Canada. In OTTAWA When I meet critics of Registration will also give law most cases, she isshot in: her home, the government's decision to re- enforcement officers a chance to almost always by someone she quire universal registration of guns, nip many crimes in the bud, be- knows, and usually with a legally- sionals are right in thinking that they often claim that we are aiming cause it will allow them to detain a owned shotgun or rifleregistration will make owners more ;, at the wrong target. Criminals will criminal on the street ora smuggler Would universal registration of accountable for their guns, then .not register their weapons, they at the border on the grounds that guns make a significant difference more people will be careful about in these cases? The record suggests storage and this in itself will avert that it would. many tragedies. In many domestic shootings, a Finally, universal registration look back at the record shows that will help us to curb the growing the murdered or injured woman had problem of the "off the -books" traf- reported assaults and threats, often fic in firearms. As matters stand with firearms. In many instances, now, rifles and shotguns that have this has led the courts to' issue an entered Canada can be sold and re- order prohibiting the offending par- sold by unlicensed dealers or bogus ty from keeping a gun. collectors without a record of own - Unfortunately, the fact that we ership, and without payment of the do not have a registration system fees and taxes that licensed dealers that covers all firearms can render must remit. No one is present to the court order ineffective as a ensure that the purchaser has an FAC, or has had the required safety means of protection. Police who come to the door to enforce it can training, or even to check whether. seize only those guns that the per- the purchaser has been forbidden son admits to owning. Theoretical- by a court from possessing, guns. ly, other family members might be able to supply any missing informa- tion - in practice they are often afraid to do so. There are also some other lives to consider: those of the law en- forcement officers on the front line. Rank and file police officers tell me that when they get called to the scene of domestic violence, it is a matter of vital importance for them to know whether they can expect armed resistance, and on what scale. As a matter of procedure, they assume that guns will be present, but now act on the basis of sketchy information, if" any, about numbers and types. If they could get full details on firearms regis- tered in that household on the way to the call, they would be better able to plan their approach to the and the elimination of guns that home, and to call for' back-up if necessary. have no legitimate purpose in Ca So controlling crime on the nadian society. The bill now be - streets is not the only issue. fore Parliament deals with all of Many avoidable tragedies hap- these matters. Overall, the strategy pen because a suicidal teenager or a contained in Bill C-68 gives us the curious child picks up a gun that is means to achieve both crime con - not securely stored. While the vast trol and gun control for the greater • majority of gun owners are respon safety of all Canadians. sible citizens, too many do not store their firearms as they should... A sizable number of tragedies can be traced directly to this cause. If the police and health profes- say, and guns smugglers will not they do not own the guns in their report them at the border. This be- possession. Indeed, in many dim- ing so, why would I embark on tions, that would be the only such a futile exercise? ground on which they could detain Although it is misleading to cast these people. the debate on registration solely as Moreover, the Ontario inquest a matter of crime control -- let me into the death of Jonathan Yeo, begin with that issue. First, let me say that I accept the premise that criminals will not reg- ister their guns. They did not regis- ter their handguns under the current system, and there is no reason to believe that they will register their firearms under the universal system we propose. But registration will make it harder for street criminals to arm themselves. Street criminals get their guns in the underground market. That mar- ket is fed by two sources: guns sto- len from law-abiding citizens, and guns smuggled into Canada. Over 3,000 guns are reported sto- len or lost each year in Canada. There is no question that many of them fall into the hands of law breakers, and that they are used in crimes such as drug homicides and robberies. The secure storage of firearms by lawful gun owners would reduce gun theft significantly. The secure storage laws are already on the books. What is needed now is to educate gun owners about those re- quirements and to encourage com- pliance. The police believe that registration will allow us to achieve both of those objectives. The .fact that police will be, able to trace a stolen weapon used in a who was implicated in the gun - related murder of Nina de Villiers, recognized the importance of regis- tration information in preventing crimes and suicides. In its report, the inquest recommended that all firearms be registered. Universal registration will also make it easier to deal with the prob- lem of firearms leaking" into the underground market from trans- border commercial shipments. If all guns are registered at the border, that danger will be lessened. Au- thorities will be able to track the firearms from the point of entry to the moment of sale to a law-abiding Canadian. The recent arrest of a gun, dealer who was selling guns il- legally after they had been import- ed quite legally shows the need for such a thorough system. While we must choke off the supply of guns to the street crimi- nal, the discussion of gun • registration should not be limited to its impact on known criminals. That is only part of the issue. The assailants in almost half of all firearms -related homicides and injuries in Canada are ordinary citizens with no previous criminal record. In most cases, the victims are acquainted with their assailants. The previously law-abiding citizen crime back to its owner through becomes a first-time criminal at the registration will be a powerful mo- moment at which, in anger or in an tivator to the owner to store fire- , emotionally disturbed state, he arms securely. The new law will picks up a gun and uses it on a require owners to report the theft or spouse, a neighbour or a former loss of a registered gun. Further- employer. • more identification of the stolen Crimes of domestic violence pro - Registration will help to ferret out the white collar criminals in the trade, it will help buyers know if they are purchasing legal guns, and it will help ensure that guns do not fall into the wrong hands. It is true that I cannot predict with accuracy the number of lives that will be saved or the reduction in the rate of crime that will be achieved by universal registration. On the other hand, governments of a previous era were unable to prove in advance that traffic lights would prevent automobile accidents, or that seat belts would save lives. Registration is not the only an- swer to the problem of the misuse of guns, but it is one very important part of the equation. The other components are tough criminal sen- tences, heightened border controls SOLUTi3ONSAICROSS 1. Era 4. Dee 7. Spaee 12. Dorn 13. Ron .14. Kolar 15. Ocarina 17. Elena 18. Tab 19. Mac 21. Pos 22. Eked 24. Poll 25. Thee 26. Cru 27. Maraca 29. Tartar 31. Sadder 35. Erased 37 ESM 38. Else 41. Dad 42. Aces 43. Map 44. Mem 45. Ere 46. Curia 4$. Sabbath 52. Erica 53. Oka 54.. Sea 55. Eager 56, Nan 57. Ed) -IIE O. INOMM ANCETINElr' SOLUTIONS DOWN. Frio 2. Roc 3. Amateur 4. Drib 5, Eon 6. Enamor 7. Spec 8. Pot 9: Aleph 10. Canoe 11. Erase 16. RAD 20. Abased 22. ECT 23. Kra 24. Parade 25. Tad 27. Mar 28, Cad 30. Tee 32. Decease 33. Ese 34. RMS 30. Samson 38. Emcee 39. Laura 40. Sprig 42. Arb 44. Maar 45. Eban 47. Ice 49. Aka 50. Ted 5 L Had OR Ii DRIVER ED CATION SERVICES Gun registry questions and answers. Ql. How will registration of all firearms work? The registration systein will be similar to drivers' licences and car ownership permits. Registration will take place in two stages. In the first stage, planned for January 1, 1996, firearms owners will have five years in which to obtain a Fire- arms Licence, which will be similar to a driver's licence in that it will show that a person is entitled to have or acquire certain firearms. This will identify the firearms own- er but not the number or types of firearms owned. The second stage, planned for January 1, 1998, will require fire- arms owners, within the 5 years that follow, to register the make, model and serial number of all their firearms. The firearms owner will receive a Registration Certificate for each firearm owned. This Cer- tificate will be similar to a car own- ership permit. The system will be computerized, simple and effective, saving firearms owners time and money. tificate (starting in 1998). There will be an incentive" to register early (on the respective starting dates) with costs increasing on a sliding scale over the 5 -year registration period. Q5. I own many firearms. Do I have to pay to register each firearm or will there be a volume discount? Yes, there will be volume dis- co`tlnts. For example, the cost for registering up to ten firearms will be the same as for one. Q6. What if I have an FAC (Fire- arms Acquisition Certificate)? Do I still need to get a Firearms Licence ' and Registration Certificate? An FAC will be good until its 5 - year expiry date. During this peri- od, no Firearms Licence is re- quired. When the FAC is expiring and you still possess firearms you must then obtain a Firearms Li- cence, sometime before the expiry date of the FAC. Q2. Once I have my Firearms Li- cence, do I have to renew it? Yes, every five years. A renewal form will be mailed to you every five years just prior to your birth- day. It will cost approximately $60 to renew, for an average of $12 per year. Renewal will ensure that in- formation in the registration system is kept up to date. s Q3. Once I have registered my firearm, do I have to register it again? No. The Registration Certificate is good for the life of the firearm unless the firearm is sold or trans- ferred. When a firearm is sold or transferred, the firearm must be registered to the new owner. A nominal charge of approximately $10 will be made for registering the transfer. This is similar to a car registration system. Q4. How much will it cost me to register my firearms? It is expected that in the first year there will be either no charge or a nominal cost in the range of $10 for firearms owners to obtain each of a Firearms Licence (start- ing in 1996) and a Registration Cer- Q7. Where do I register? Registration applications for the Firearms Licence and Registration Certificate will be available at post offices and other public places con- veniently located in the communi- ty. Those who own firearms, and who wish to keep them, will be able to obtain their Firearms Li- cence and a Registration Certificate by mailing in the applications. The renewal licence and certificate will be sent directly to the applicant. Q8. Will I need to register my ammunition? No. Q9. How does the registration system affect the purchase of am- munition? Those who now own firearms, do not intend to acquire any more, and are simply applying to obtain a Firearms Licence or Registration Certificate need not take any course to do so. Those who wish to acquire a fire- arm, and who have already com- pleted the Canadian Firearms Safe- ty Course, or any course or test ° approved by the Attorney General of a province between January 1, 1993 and January 1, 1995, will not have to take another course. • As is the, case at present, if -you wish to acquire a firearm and have not taken such a course, you will have to take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course. Q11. Some people say it is going to cost anywhere from $500 million to $1.5 billion for the government to set up the registration system. Is this true? There will be no requirement to register ammunition. Nor will there be any limit on the amount of am- munition you can buy. However, you will be required to produce identification, and when the new system is in place, there will'be a requirement to present your Fire- arms Licence when buying ammu- nition: Q10. Do I need to take the fire- arms course again? No. To set up the system will cost approximately $85 million, spread over seven years, which will be recovered over time from the fees referred to above. Q12. If I am an aboriginal person, do 1 still have to register? with safe storage laws already on the books, thus reducing the theft of firearms from homes. The result will be fewer firearms on the under- ground market, and it will be more difficult for criminals to acquire il- legal firearms. Q14. Registration has been tried and abandoned in oilier countries like New Zealand. Why are you trying it here? Dianne Murphy has achieved more. Wayne Chandler, Owen Sound Region Manager for Investors Group Financial Services Inc. is pleased to announce Dianne Murphy has achieved her Chartered Financial Planner designation from the Canadian 'nstitute of Financial Planning. Dianne has achieved a high level of specialized knowledge in financial, insurance and taxation matters which will enable her to provide the best possible service to her many clients. Investors Group Financial Services Inc. is a member of the Investors Group Inc. one of the largest financial services companies in the country. For more than 50 years, Investors Group Inc. has been a pioneer in offering. complete financial planning services as well as a comprehensive array of financial products and services. Today, we manage over $24 billion in assets for over a half a'million "People like you. Investors Group YOU'RE ro , MORE holmium ions Group Finannar 4 r,fc o Inr. Yes. The firearms registration system will apply equally to all per- sons, but it will be implemented in a way that is sensible and sensitive to the aboriginal way of life. For example, measures are being taken to involve native people in imple- menting the program. Q13. How will registration pro- vide any deterrent to criminal activ- ity? Criminals will not register their firearms. It is true that street criminals do not register their firearms. The po- lice report that criminals get their firearms on the "underground mar- ket", which is fed by smuggled and stolen firearms. Registration will help eliminate those two sources of supply and will help track the point at which the firearms enter the "il- legal market". Police will be able to use regis- tration information in criminal in- vestigations and in planning the strategy to respond to domestic vio- lence calls. By registering all firearms enter- ing the country, firearms will be tracked from import to the hands of the registered owner. Registration will also encourage compliance The system tried in New Zealand pre -dated modern computer sys- tems and involved handwritten doc- uments. The system we will intro- duce will be based on state-of-the- art technology. Q15. You have said registration would be user-friendly. How are you making it easier for me? The system will be user-friendly and easy. Firearm owners will have ample time to obtain both their Firearms Licence and Registration Certificate. Most, owners will be able to mail in the required forms after picking them up at a post of- fice or other public place. The Fire- arms Licence and Registration Cer- tificate will be similar in appearance to a bank or'credit card. Q16. What will be the impact of the new firearms legislation on visi- tors from the USA or abroad who . may wish to come to Canada to hunt or compete in shooting com- petitions? IhdivldualS visiting Canada to hunt or to take part in shooting competitions will require a tempo- rary Firearms Licence and a Regis- tration Certificate to bring a firearm into the. country. A Customs Fire- arms Declaration will act as a 60 - day licence and certificate and will be validated at the border. These declarations will be readi- ly available to visitors through Ca- nadian Tourism Offices abroad and at outfitters, shooting clubs and hunting organizations. There will be opportunities for non-residents to apply in advance to speed up the process at the bor- der. In the case of sporting clubs, as has always been the case, the re- quirements can be met before .� crossing the border, through Cana- dian clubs and: asQociations. An au- thorization to transport will be is- sued at the same tinie. The Corporation of the Township of Morris In the Matter of the Otitario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter 0.18 and in the Matter of the Lands and Premises at the Following Municipal Address in the Province of Ontario. Notice of Intention to repeal By -Law 6-1989 TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation ,of the Township of Morris intends to consider a by-law to repeal Designating By-law No. 6-1989, for property at the following municipal address, being a by-law to designate the exterior of 13 Queen's Street in the Hamlet of Belgrave as a property of architectural and historical significance, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act; and pursuant to Section 31 (4) of the Ontario Heritage Act, the following information is provided: (a) Property Description: • 13 Queen's Street, in the Hamlet of Belgrave, Township of Moms, County of Huron, Province of Ontario. WPT Lot 1 Plan 161, Queen's Hotel, Belgrave, Ontario. NOG 1E0. (b) Statement of the Reasons for the Proposed Repealing of the By-law: The Township of Morris has recently acquired the noted property, in trust, for the Kinsmen Club of Belgrave and District; 1/ The Kinsmen Club of Belgrave and District propose to demolish the structure with the intent to construct a landscaped park at the location. 2/ The structure has been inspected and was found to be in a state of poor repair and the structural quality of the building , in the opinion of the Chief Building Official, is in such condition that it is questioned if it is feasible to repair the structure. • Many "bandaid" repairs have been attempted over the years to overcome problems and these repairs have left the structure in a poor state of repair. 5/ The structure adversely affects the aesthetics of the surrounding area. Defn: Aesthetics- the laws and principles determining the beautiful in nature, art, taste, etc. 4/ The Structure interferes with the sitelines for traffic at Brandon Street, hamlet of Belgrave and highway No. 4. 5/ If the structure was demolished the sitelines would be improved at the junction of Brandon Street and highway No. 4, creating a safer community for all residents and traffic. 6/ A Community park would beautify the area and be accessible and enjoyed by a variety of age groups, in the area. Any person may, within (30) thirty days of the first publication of this notice, serve to the Clerk of the Township of Morris, notice of his or her objection to the proposed repealing of the Heritage Designation By-law, together with a statement of the reasons for the objection and and all relevant facts. If such Notice of objection is received the council shall refer the matter to the Conservation Review Board for a hearing. Dated at the Township of Morris this 19th day of July, 1995. Nancy Michie, Clerk