OTTAWA – For Manitoba Liberal MP David Iftody, it was a not-so-simple question of following the wishes of his constituents.
Last week, along with eight other federal Liberals, he voted against his government and against new gun controls.
Along with Saskatchewan’s Bernie Collins and a clutch of rural Ontario Liberals, Iftody likely will be punished by the party next autumn, possibly by losing his seat on parliamentary committees.
For the rookie MP, it was a question of following his constituents rather than following the party line, even though there were threats of retaliation and pleas from party leaders, including prime minister Jean ChrŽtien, that MPs elected on the Liberal banner stick with the party.
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Iftody had decided to listen to the results of a public opinion survey of 500 constituents that showed a small majority (52.6 percent) opposed the legislation.
“I am disturbed and concerned that there will be farmers in my riding … who have had firearms in their homes for decades, who treat them as tools not weapons and who may not register their weapons and may face criminal penalties for doing so,” he said as he announced his vote. “I can’t stand here and accept that. Today, I want to … stand with the people of Provencher.”
Despite the nine dissident Liberal votes, the gun control bill passed through the House of Commons June 13 by a vote of 192 – 63.
All but three Reform MPs joined the nine Liberals and eight New Democrats in voting against the bill that calls for a gun registration system.
Most Liberals, the Bloc QuŽbecois, New Democrat Svend Robinson and Reformers Ted White from North Vancouver, Jim Silye from Calgary and Ian McClelland from Edmonton voted for it.
The Reform dissidents said they too were listening to their constituents. Although they and their party were opposed, their urban constituents were in favor of the bill, they said.
Then, the legislation headed to the Senate and the Progressive Conservative majority announced it will not move
quickly.
A Senate committee will hold hearings this summer as a prelude to a debate this autumn.
The Senate, which is not controlled by the Liberals, will be the best chance opponents have to kill or at least amend the bill.
While unusual in recent history, the Senate Conservative majority has shown it is willing to defy the elected Liberal government when it can.
