MP Report for the week of October 24, 2011: On the Long Gun Registry and Private Member`s Bill

For many citizens in this riding and across Canada this week on Parliament Hill will be one that has been long awaited.This week legislation will be introduced that will fulfill a campaign commitment with respect to the long gun registry. Since becoming elected as a Member of Parliament, the two issues that I have most heard from citizens on includes widespread opposition to former Liberal Bill 428, (that I am pleased to report it now defunct) and an overwhelming support for an end to the long gun registry. As the Bill to end the long gun registry is still on order paper and has not yet had first reading I cannot confirm the Bill number however I will share this information in next week`s report. Over the past few months while the House has been back in session I have greatly appreciated hearing from citizens all across Okanagan- Coquihalla with questions and comments for the various Bills before the house. Another Bill that I can report on is my private members Bill C-311 to put an end to wine prohibition in Canada. Last week second reading debate began on C-311 and it was an extremely heartening experience for me to learn that the members from the NDP and both a member from the Liberals and Green Party were all in favour of sending C-311 forward to committee stage. I am hopeful that Bill C-311 will be heading to Committee Stage before the Christmas break.

On the subject of Bills, excluding Private members Bills, there are currently eighteen different Government Bills that have been introduced into the House during this 41st session of Parliament. Of that eighteen, five have been granted royal assent and the remainder are either at first or second stage reading and related debate. Clearly there is still much to be done in the weeks and months ahead and this is one of the reasons why time limits are sometimes put in place to allow some bills to move forward in a timely manner. With Private members Bills, there are fixed time limits in advance and at all stages of debate to help ensure that as many different members as possible have an opportunity to move a bill a forward, subject to the list of consideration that contains the order members are drawn in the private members bill lottery. Although I was originally drawn as 12 out of 239 members, an opportunity arose that allowed my Private Members Bill to move forward to the #1 position meaning second reading debate began last week instead of later in November as was previously the case. If you have any questions on private members bills or related procedure please contact me at your convenience.

I will next be back in the riding the week of November 6th to November 12th, and would like to hear from as many of you as possible. If you would like to schedule a meeting please do not hesitate to contact my Penticton office locally at 250-770-4480 or toll free at 1-800-665-8711. If you would like more timely updates on my activities in Ottawa you can also visit my www.daninottawa.com blog site or you can subscribe to weekly updates at www.danalbas.com . I look forward to seeing many of you whether at a meeting, public event or just out and about in the riding.

Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla and can be contacted at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca