Holy Remington…
The CPC’s promise to “scrap the wasteful and ineffective long gun registry” — in exactly those words, the better to optimize the propaganda value — has been central to their platform for about as long as the registry has existed. But I honestly didn’t think they’d ever do it, majority or not. It’s served them well in so many ways, particularly given the kind of divisive, “us and them” politics they like to play. Since Harpie isn’t known for keeping his word, I fully expected the long-gun registry pledge to end up with all the others on his battered compost heap of breached commitments and broken promises.
But I was Wrong. Yesterday, the “Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act” was finally tabled. (Heh – I’m surprised they didn’t call it the “Ending the Wasteful & Ineffective Long-Gun Registry Act”, a phrase which, though I fully agree with it, they’ve been parroting for so long that by now they must know how to burp it.) So, woohoo! 32 flavours of woohoo!: this is maybe the only issue where Harper and I are sympatico.
The Act would dismantle the registry and supposedly shred all the personal information that’s been collected over the years. Supposedly. But who really believes that a government — any government, of any stripe — would willingly demolish a treasure trove of personal information that it has on some of its citizens? Not me. Registry supporters fretting about the destruction of the information should relax: it will most likely just be moved to a new home far beneath the verdant lawns of Parliament Hill, stashed away in some dank and musty, foul-smelling corner of the Harpenbunker, as a team of sweaty CPC geeks tries to figure out what use the government can make of it.
The Act is expected to zoom into law fairly quickly but it hasn’t yet, and anything can happen. Harper isn’t above engaging in elaborate political theatre for the benefit of his base, so I’ll save the happy dance and the other 31 flavours of woohoo! for the day C-19 becomes law.
