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Friday, October 28, 2011

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JEff TRIbE Tillsonburg News

Gun registry in

Wayne Goble of Gobles firearms is not unhappy with the potential abolition of Canadas long-gun registry following introduction of a bill to do so tuesday in parliament, but is concerned there may be a vote-seeking response from the provincial government. Goble is pictured here in his tillsonburg outlet.
JEff tRIBE Tillsonburg News
A long-gun registry critic's charge did not deliver effective bang for considerable bucks is squarely in the sights of Canadas majority Conservative government. On October 25, the government backed up a long-standing election promise by tabling legislation in Canadas House of Commons for the long-gun registrys abolition. Ive always been opposed to it, said Oxford MP Dave MacKenzie, chair of the standing committee on justice for the Conservative government. MacKenzie says the bill will come back for second reading, go to committee and then return for third and final reading, and anticipated passage. I would hope it would be through the house by Christmas or not too long after that, he said. MacKenzies opinion from the 1990s was the long-gun registry didnt work and wouldnt work. I think it has been borne out it is ineffective and cost a lot of money, he said. Efforts were mounted in the past to abolish the longgun registry, including a vote during the previous minority government which initially had the support of members from different parties in parliament, but was defeated after members of the Liberal and NDP parties where whipped into voting along party lines. Subsequently a number of those people also lost their seats, he said. MacKenzie said the long-run registry was sold as a feel good measure which represented negative issues for legitimate long-gun owners and did not address the real problem posed by illegal handguns. The money spent on the long-gun registry would have been more effective in other areas. Official opposition justice critic Jack Harris, NDP MP from St. Johns East, said his party will not be supporting abolition of the long-gun registry. This government has chosen to not only get rid of the registry and lessen gun safety in Canada, theyve also decided they are going to destroy the information that has been collected to date," he said. This is irresponsible and a lot of people are against it. Harris said a number of provincial governments, particularly Quebecs National Assembly, have expressed interest in using current data for the creation of provincial registries. Harris characterizes the Conservative approach as an ongoing example of divisive, polarizing politics rather than seeking a compromise solution. He said the NDPs approach was seeking effective solutions which removed irritants to legitimate gun owners while retaining the essential function of a registry he conceded was not perfect. It doesnt do everything but it promotes responsible gun ownership and accountability, he said. The debate has significant rural-urban, regional and male-female divides, but is not entirely a black-and-white issue.

see GUNS | page 2

Oxford man sentenced Vienneau makes second court to eight months appearance
JASON MILLER QMI Agency

ENvIRONMENTAl vIOlATIONS

cOuRTS

NORTHERN lIgHTS
We were all treated to a great light show . Page 12

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BELLEVILLE An Oxford man will pay $120,000 in fines and serve eight months in jail for a string of environmental violations. Ro b e r t Bra u n s e n t e n c e stemmed from the dumping of waste in 2007 from a Trenton paper mill to the Quinte West and Oxford County properties. Brauns co-accused, Ronald Charlton of Belleville, was ordered to pay $284,000 and serve 60 days in jail for the violations. Charlton will pay $180,000 in fines, while the additional $104,000, is profits the court established he gained from spearheading the illegal dumping operation in which 69 truckloads of sludge were dumped on an uncertified Sidney Ward site in Quinte West. Braun, 44, accepted culpability for depositing 260 truckloads of the sludge on the Oxford County property. Charlton plans to fight his sentence. He notified the QMI Agency following the sentencing that he intends to launch an appeal. He said the penalties imposed were unfair and far too severe for his involvement. He was a little hard on me
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HEAtHER RIvERS QMI Agency

WOODSTOCK - A Tillsonburg man charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault made a second court appearance by audio link Wednesday morning from a London Hospital. Daniel Vienneau, 46, of 19 Fernwood Dr., was charged last week with slashing the throat of a woman after breaking into her Tillsonburg residence. Court documents alleged that Vienneau "slashed the throat" of the occupant, "causing serious injury resulting in severe blood loss and subsequent loss of vital signs." On Oct. 12, Oxford County OPP reported officers attended a Tillsonburg home where they located a 36-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man, both suffering from serious injuries. A court-order publication ban, put in place Wednesday morning, prevents the publication of any information that will identify the complainant in this case. Vienneau's defence attorney, Jim Battin, told the court his client was aware of the charges

against him. "There are two and he is aware of both of them," he said. Vienneau, who is currently recovering in hospital from injuries, said little during his second court appearance other than state his inability to hear the dialogue of the proceedings. While waiting for the judge to be escorted in chambers, Vienneau appeared unsure of his role. "I'm not sure what I should say when it's my turn," he told his attorney. "Don't say anything," Battin replied. Battin later said his client is now able to "talk and walk around." "I can't say much more than that," he said. Vienneau will appear in court by video-link on Nov. 15, in order for Battin to receive disclosure from the Crown's office. Battin told Vienneau he will be visiting him in hospital after he receives more information from the Crown Attorney's office.

JASON MILLER TOMI Agency

Prosecutor, Laura Webber leaves the Belleville superior court on tuesday Nov. 25, 2011, following the sentencing of two environmental violators. Webber is flanked by environment enforcement officers Gary Roberts (left) Dan Joyner and Corey Jin (right).
compared to what I expected, Charlton said about the sentence issued by Justice of the Peace Stewart Wright. I pled guilty to the environmental charges because I did not intend for this to happen or want to hurt the environSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

ment, he said in the statement. I made some mistakes and accept responsibility. I owned the land and allowed access to it. see VIOLATIONS | page 5

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Editorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

WEATHER

Sunny; High 7, Low 2 . Page 2

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