The federal government, under pressure
for overspending on the national gun registry, says it's going to
scale back the program for the foreseeable future.
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon told Parliament on Thursday that
he will freeze spending.
He said the program will continue to operate but at a minimum
level.
But Cauchon did not explain how the registry can keep going after
he withdrew a request for another $72 million in operating funds.
"We are looking within the Justice Department operating budgets
to manage any shortfall in resources until my review is complete,"
he said.
Alliance wants program
scrapped
But opponents of the gun-control
measure say the whole thing should be scrapped.
"He continues to defend a program Parliament now refused to
fund," said Canadian Alliance member of Parliament Garry Breitkreuz.
Cauchon says any decision to go after more money will be made
openly, with full accounting to Parliament.
NDP MP Bill Blaikie says that, at least, is an improvement.
"He's done a lot for transparency by so transparently engaging in
an act of damage control," he said.
The government came under fire when the overall cost of the gun
registry ballooned from a projected $2 million to almost $1 billion.
