"The current registration, done by public service workers and members of the PSAC in conjunction with the RCMP, provides Canadians with the confidentiality required for such a process," adds Turmel. "Contracting-out such personal information, used primarily for law enforcement, to a private contractor proves once again that the federal government’s main concern is that of money and not the protection of the Canadian public."

Lynn Ray, national president of the Union of Solicitor General Employees of the PSAC, said she was shocked and dismayed when she learned late last week that the federal government was going to contract-out this work to a private contractor. "It has been our experience that most privatization schemes result in additional work for our members because they have to mop up the aftermath left by the private contractor," Ray says.

"It is even more alarming that the government is looking at a 10-year contract. What, if like other privatization schemes, it doesn’t work? Once again the Canadian taxpayer is on the hook to spend money to get out of the contract.

"The federal government continues to call it a cost-saving method. Whether it is privatization, contracting-out or Alternative Service Delivery (ASD) there are no savings for Canadian taxpayers. In most instances it adds to the government costs.

"Now that the legislation is in effect and the start-up phase is complete, the federal government plans to turf the public service workers out of their jobs and hand it over to a private-for-profit contractor."

Both Turmel and Ray are urging Canadians to contact their Member of Parliament to remind them that this process deals with criminal law and gun registration information must remain with the law enforcers and not with a private contractor.

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For information:

Nycole Turmel, PSAC national president (613) 560-4330
Lynn Ray, national president, USGE (613) 232-4821