NOTE:  Versions of this story also ran in: The National Post, The Ottawa Citizen, The Regina Leader-Post, The Saskatoon Star Phoenix, The Halifax Daily News.

PUBLICATION:          Edmonton Journal

DATE:                         2003.06.07

EDITION:                    Final

SECTION:                  News

PAGE:                         A8

BYLINE:                     Tim Naumetz

SOURCE:                   CanWest News Service

DATELINE:                 OTTAWA

ILLUSTRATION:        Colour Photo: Journal Stock / Solicitor General WayneEaster 

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Background checks optional for gun licences, Ottawa says

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OTTAWA - The federal government disclosed Friday background checks have not been done on all the 589,200 individuals who have been granted firearms possession and acquisition licences since 1998.

The disclosure, prompted by questions from Canadian Alliance MP Garry Breitkreuz, contradicts justice department statements last year and puts into question the government's claim that the new licensing system will keep guns out of the wrong hands.

The policy also belies a claim on the centre's Web site that it conducts "continuous background checks on applicants and licence holders," which has resulted in the refusal or revocation of about 9,000 licences.

The government has continuously touted the licensing system as the chief safety component of its controversial firearms program and also says it is the most costly aspect.

Solicitor General Wayne Easter told the Commons that reference checks for gun possession and

acquisition licences are done only at the discretion of officers who are responsible for investigating all licence applications.

"Reference checks are performed during the course of an investigation, at the discretion of the investigator, based on the issue being assessed," Easter said in a written response to a question from Breitkreuz.

Easter also revealed the government has no idea how many people who gave character references on firearms licence applications have been contacted by the government.

Easter told reporters he believes the centre and firearms officers in each province are doing "appropriate" reference checks, adding police officers are increasing their use of the registry during investigations and for tracking down illegal weapons.

A spokesman for the Canadian Firearms Centre said it has never been the program's intention to contact all character references on gun licence applications.

"One of the myths that Breit-kreuz and opponents have been propagating is that every reference gets a phone call from a firearms officer," said spokesman David Austin.

He explained that what really happens is "every reference signs a declaration; they provide their full name, address, and they sign a declaration saying they've known the person for three years and they don't consider him to be a risk, and then that is filed."

Austin said the firearms officer "decides whether or not to call the person for further information." But in May 2002, the justice department advised then justice minister Anne McLellan, in a briefing note for question period, that "reference and background checks are done on each possession and acquisition licence (PAL) application," according to documents Breitkreuz obtained through the Access to Information Act.