CAW Congratulates Two NDP MPs for Supporting Gun Registry, Urges Others to
Vote in Kind

TORONTO, Sept. 7 /CNW/ - CAW President Ken Lewenza commended NDP MPs Charlie Angus, (Timmins James Bay) and Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury) for opting to change their vote on Bill C-391, a Conservative-sponsored Private Members Bill which would dismantle the national long gun registry. 

"I want to congratulate these two MPs for joining others in the New Democratic Party who have had the courage to vote against the Bill and to keep the registry in place," said Lewenza. "Now it is up to the remaining 10 NDP MPs to act in the name of public safety and common sense, instead of buying into Conservative rhetoric about the registry. They must vote to keep the national long gun registry in place."

The CAW has had an ongoing campaign, working in coalition with other groups, to lobby MPs to support maintaining the long gun registry and it appears these efforts are paying off, said Julie White, Director of CAW Women's Programs.

"These two MPs are to be congratulated  for listening to the many voices in their ridings who have raised opposition to the dismantling of Canada's national  long gun registry under the Conservative lead Bill C-391," said White.

"The Tories have aggressively promoted this issue as one that divides urban and rural Canadians but the recent shift by Angus and Thibeault indicate that Canadians are not anywhere near as divided as Stephen Harper would lead us to believe," said White. "With the recent release of the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program Evaluation giving high marks to the firearms programs, my hope is that more New Democrats will follow the lead of their colleagues in the days to come."

For further information:

Director of CAW Women's Programs Julie White (cell) 519-860-7015 or CAW Communications Shannon Devine (cell) 416-302-1699