Ms. Candice Hoeppner (Portage—Lisgar, CPC): Mr. Speaker, my private member's bill, Bill C-391, which would end the long gun registry, will be before the House tonight for debate, and on November 4, members will vote on second reading.

    These are important steps in bringing an end to the wasteful and ineffective boondoggle of the long gun registry.

    I hope that members of the opposition who say in their ridings that they are against the long gun registry will be part of this debate and, on November 4, will stand up for their constituents.

    I ask the Minister of Public Safety, why should opposition members be supporting Bill C-391?

    Hon. Peter Van Loan (Minister of Public Safety, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the bureaucratic long gun registry does nothing to stop criminals with illegal handguns. But it is, however, very effective at wasting money and harassing farmers and law-abiding outdoors enthusiasts.

    Soon, they will be watching closely as we in this House have the opportunity to stand and vote to abolish that wasteful and ineffective registry.

    The Liberal leader once said, “I want to be in a party that respects the rights of legitimate gun owners. It's an issue of freedom.”

    I urge the opposition members to answer their leader's call for freedom. Stand in this place and vote to abolish the wasteful long gun registry.