Over the last two weeks, there has been extensive coverage on a topic of the utmost importance to the Toronto Police Services Board, and the vast majority of organizations related to policing in Canada, including the Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB), the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Canadian Police Association.
This issue, of course, is the long gun registry and the critical role that it plays in controlling gun violence in Canada.
At the beginning of the Board meeting last week, on August 26, the Board commended Chief Bill Blair on the admirable job he has done, in his capacity as president of the CACP in bringing a very high public profile to this issue at the CACP convention in August.
You can also watch Mike McCormack, President of the Toronto Police Association, emphasize the value of the registry on an Alberta current affairs show.
In addition, at last week's meeting, the Board approved a motion to reinforce our support for the long gun registry by endorsing the call by the CAPB to observe September 15 as the National Day in Support of the Long Gun Registry. I am gratified that Toronto City Council has followed suit and voted overwhelmingly to support the long gun registry and the National Day on September 15. You can read the Council’s motion here and some subsequent media coverage here.
Our Board has no intention of giving up our fight to maintain the long gun registry. On September 15, 2010, we will join with the CAPB in recognizing the National Day in Support of the Long Gun Registry.
We will continue to reinforce the message that the federal government must not lose sight of the significant benefits of the registry.
It is a matter of great priority for community safety.
