NEWS RELEASE  

December 2, 2003                                                                                       For Immediate Release

FIREARMS FORENSIC UNIT HAD THEIR BUDGET CUT: RCMP DOCUMENTS REVEAL

“Why would the RCMP help the Liberals cover up the real reason for forensic unit cuts?” asked Breitkreuz.

Ottawa – Today, Garry Breitkreuz, Official Opposition Critic for Firearms and Property Rights, exposed another Liberal tall tale but this one was aided and abetted by the RCMP.  New documents reveal that budget cuts were the real reason for cutbacks in the RCMP Forensic Laboratory Services (FLS) – not increased workload as the RCMP wrote in a letter to the provinces.

On August 28, 2003, the RCMP officer in charge of the six RCMP forensic laboratories across the country, Assistant Commissioner Joe Buckle, wrote: "Unfortunately, due to the heavy pressure on our firearms services, FLS can only continue to provide analysis in those instances where there is associated criminal activity.  As an example, firearms analysis of exhibits associated with Wildlife Act and Regulation contraventions can no longer be accepted.”  No mention of the budget cuts was made in the Assistant Commissioner’s letter.

The RCMP “Briefing Note” dated September 18th obtained by Breitkreuz under the Access to Information Act contradicts the excuse given by the RCMP just 20 days earlier: “Early in the current f/y [fiscal year] the government announced budget cuts of one Billion dollars resulting in an impact to the RCMP of $15 million.  The contribution of the FLS to this cause was $446,000.  In addition, for two consecutive years the FLS has been unsuccessful in obtaining an “A” Base increase.”

“For the sake of $446,000 (0.3% of this year’s gun registry budget of $128 million), the Liberals decided to let hundreds of Wildlife Act offenders off scot-free,” protested Breitkreuz.  Other documents provided by the RCMP show there have been 222 “wildlife cases” handled by the firearms forensic unit since 2001.  “And, it’s not just the provinces that are affected by these cuts,” reported Breitkreuz.  “The RCMP admitted that these cuts also affect prosecutions by Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada and enforcement of the Federal Migratory Birds Act but failed to provide any statistics to justify their claim that the firearms forensic services was under such ‘heavy pressure’.  Now, their own budget cuts are affecting the Liberals’ promises to protect wildlife and the environment,” said Breitkreuz.

“On October 23^rd, I gave the Justice Committee the chance to redirect a ‘new appropriation’ of $10 million for the gun registry to the RCMP forensic laboratories but the Liberals on the committee unanimously voted my motion down.  I wonder how they can live with such complete disregard for an effective crime fighting tool like forensic testing and yet support a completely useless one like the gun registry?” asked Breitkreuz.

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