PUBLICATION:
National Post
DATE:
2002.12.03
EDITION:
National
SECTION:
Canada
PAGE:
A4
BYLINE:
Tim Naumetz
SOURCE:
Southam News
DATELINE:
OTTAWA
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Natives
given free bullets: Gun licences not required: Disproportionately high number of
aboriginals involved in homicides
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OTTAWA
- The federal government is handing out free ammunition on First Nation reserves
even though the aboriginal rate of involvement in homicide is seven times higher
than the national average, documents show. Indian Affairs records show the
department distributed more than 4,000 rounds of rifle and shotgun ammunition to
four First Nation reserves in northern British Columbia and Alberta this year
and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition the previous year to bands in Manitoba.
Under
Firearms Act exemptions that reflect treaty obligations and native rights, the
First Nation members who get the ammunition do not require licences otherwise
needed to obtain ammunition or firearms in Canada, federal officials say.
The
government is required to furnish the aboriginal bands with hunting ammunition
and twine or fishing nets annually under several treaties signed by
representatives of the British Crown in the past century. The First Nations may
also ask for cash payments instead of the ammunition or other equipment, say
documents obtained by Canadian Alliance MP Garry Breitkreuz.
While
most bands have chosen cash in lieu of ammunition and twine or nets, the
Saulteau, Fort Nelson, Prophet River and Doig River bands in the region of Fort
St. John this year chose ammunition. Several bands in Manitoba also received
ammunition. At least one band in Saskatchewan has requested ammunition as its
treaty allotment this year, a federal official said.
The
ammunition consists primarily of such high-calibre shells as .308, .303 and
.3030, which are used for hunting such game animals as deer and moose, and
.12-gauge shotgun shells for hunting fowl. The department also distributed large
quantities of smaller-calibre .22 shells.
The
documents show band officials can hand out the ammunition to members who do not
have firearms licences required elsewhere for the purchase of firearms and
ammunition. The exemption applies only to aboriginals receiving ammunition in
fulfilment of treaty obligations.
Mr.
Breitkreuz has challenged the government to explain the distribution of so much
ammunition to First Nation bands without enforcing a Firearms Act requirement
that anyone buying ammunition must also hold a valid firearms ownership licence
or firearms ownership and acquisition licence.
The
Alliance MP, whose officials released documents yesterday pointing to an
alarming rate of homicide involvement among aboriginals, said he expects
Auditor-General Sheila Fraser to reveal dramatic evidence today that the
firearms registration and licensing system is hopelessly over budget.
Mr.
Breitkreuz said he has calculated the program has cost taxpayers $800-million
since the Liberal government began work on it in 1995, with the bulk of the
money spent over the past four years. A Treasury Board official recently told a
Senate committee the bill is expected to total $1- billion by 2005.
Mr.
Breitkreuz's office released figures obtained from the Canadian Centre for
Justice Statistics that show the number of homicides involving firearms has
remained steady at about one-third of all homicides.
The
statistics show that while aboriginals account for only 3% of the country's
population, or about one million people, they comprised at least 25% of all
persons accused of committing homicide in 2001. The figure does not include
incidents where police services did not collect or report information on
aboriginal status, so the actual percentage of homicide involvement by
aboriginals may be higher.