Steven Mace
06-15-2002, 12:41 AM
Friday, June 14, 2002
Gun registry going private?
By AJAY BHARDWAJ, EDMONTON SUN
The federal government has quietly been privatizing its gun registry and has already spent more than $17.5 million on contracts, says the Alliance's firearms critic.
Under an Access to Information request, Garry Breitkreuz obtained documents showing the government awarded a $4.8-million contract to BDP Business Data Services Limited in July 2000.
That contract has since grown to $17.6 million.
"How many others have they privatized, we're not sure," he said. "What is really shocking to us is this one firm says 'we're going to do this for $4.8 million' and a year and a half later it's three and a half times larger."
Breitkreuz, a stern critic of the government's gun registry, says it's grown to a $685-million money pit and is riddled with errors. He also claims it's of no help to police.
"They're trying to distance themselves from a huge boondoggle, saying, 'Well, you know we're handing it over to a private firm saying they'll do a good job.'"
Breitkreuz is eagerly awaiting the auditor general's report on the registry, due in November.
"We've had the private sector assisting with processing of licence applications and registration certificates, and that goes back to our earliest days," said David Austin, a spokesman for the Canadian Firearms Centre.
He said BDP has helped process licence applications since 2000 and new registration certificates for the past year.
"Yes, their work for us has increased and as their work has increased, the remuneration has increased," said Austin. He couldn't say how much more the company is being paid.
Breitkreuz also lambasted the government for privatizing the registry before the privacy commissioner completes an investigation into the implications of the government's outsourcing plans for the Canadian Firearms Program.
"If those things fall into the wrong hands, it could cause a lot of problems for people," said Breitkreuz.
But Austin said the Privacy Act governs the public and private sectors.
"We're accountable and responsible for the program - that means the Privacy Act prevails," he said.
"Everything that is put in is protected under the federal Privacy Act.
"That doesn't change whether it is a contractor who is working on it or a public servant working on it."
http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonNews/es.es-06-14-0044.html
Steve Mace
Gun registry going private?
By AJAY BHARDWAJ, EDMONTON SUN
The federal government has quietly been privatizing its gun registry and has already spent more than $17.5 million on contracts, says the Alliance's firearms critic.
Under an Access to Information request, Garry Breitkreuz obtained documents showing the government awarded a $4.8-million contract to BDP Business Data Services Limited in July 2000.
That contract has since grown to $17.6 million.
"How many others have they privatized, we're not sure," he said. "What is really shocking to us is this one firm says 'we're going to do this for $4.8 million' and a year and a half later it's three and a half times larger."
Breitkreuz, a stern critic of the government's gun registry, says it's grown to a $685-million money pit and is riddled with errors. He also claims it's of no help to police.
"They're trying to distance themselves from a huge boondoggle, saying, 'Well, you know we're handing it over to a private firm saying they'll do a good job.'"
Breitkreuz is eagerly awaiting the auditor general's report on the registry, due in November.
"We've had the private sector assisting with processing of licence applications and registration certificates, and that goes back to our earliest days," said David Austin, a spokesman for the Canadian Firearms Centre.
He said BDP has helped process licence applications since 2000 and new registration certificates for the past year.
"Yes, their work for us has increased and as their work has increased, the remuneration has increased," said Austin. He couldn't say how much more the company is being paid.
Breitkreuz also lambasted the government for privatizing the registry before the privacy commissioner completes an investigation into the implications of the government's outsourcing plans for the Canadian Firearms Program.
"If those things fall into the wrong hands, it could cause a lot of problems for people," said Breitkreuz.
But Austin said the Privacy Act governs the public and private sectors.
"We're accountable and responsible for the program - that means the Privacy Act prevails," he said.
"Everything that is put in is protected under the federal Privacy Act.
"That doesn't change whether it is a contractor who is working on it or a public servant working on it."
http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonNews/es.es-06-14-0044.html
Steve Mace