Over the Edge + October 6, 2010 news 3 Parliament Still Fighting Over Guns Long-Gun Registry fire up debate in Parliament again HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR It has been fifteen years since the Federal Government first introduced the Gun Registry (back in 1995), yet the issue still causes heated debates across the country. Every so often the issue pops up in Parliament, sparking a national discussion on whether the Registry is effective or just a waste of tax-payers’ hard-earned money. There are some things which people either love or hate, and the gun registry can be considered an example. The Conservatives hate it. On September 22"4 a Conservative backbencher introduced a private members bill to abolish For these, and other like reasons, the Liberals and Bloc love it... that is, they don’t want it abolished and consider it effective. When it came to voting on whether to keep the controversial registry, the House was divided and it was left up to the NDP. The vote was staggeringly close, and the long-gun registry was saved by a mere two NDP votes. However, the issue is far from dead as Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to continue his crusade against the registry. He claims that “the people of the regions of this country are never going to accept being treated like criminals.” The whole debate seems to pit farmers and hunters against the police, women’s groups and victim’s rights groups. Basically, it boils down to a debate between rural and urban outlooks. While the registry. The basic sentiment /Viany women’s groups support the registry QS the registry was a rather messy on the right side of the room is that the registry is wasteful, ineffective, and criminalizes hunters and farmers. The Conservatives argue that criminals do not register long guns which, let’s face it, they probably don't. However, many women’s groups support the registry as women are often the victims of gun violence. The idea on this side of the debate is that the registry helps police combat domestic violence by informing them of the exact number of guns in a home. In 2006 it was reported that the long-gun registry was used by police while investigating crimes and complaints 2.3 million times or 6,500 times women are often the victims of gun violence endeavour during its costly infancy, it has since been reported by the RCMP in August that the registry is “cost effective, efficient, and an important tool for law enforcement.” Many political critics are urging MP’s to focus on other issues they deem more important such as Canada’s economy and the deficit, healthcare, and education; however, Stephen Harper has made it clear that he won't let the issue die. Because the long gun registry strikes a nerve with so many people, and considering the delicate state of our minority government, it is sure to be used as political a day. fuel for the next election. Deadline for Green Fund Approaches UNBC’'s grant program for green innova- tions will stop accepting proposals soon HANNA PETERSEN i NEWS EDITOR Ever wonder why UNBC is known as Canada’s Green university as you are throwing away your fifth Tim Horton’s cup of the day? Programs like UNBC’s Green Fund may give you an inclination. The Green Fund awards grants for innovative projects designed to create a more sustainable campus. The total revenue for the fund is a whopping $50,000 with around $5,000 awarded to each individual project. Considering the number of Students at UNBC enrolled in some kind of environmental related program the money will surely be well spent. HANNA PETERSEN ‘There are new compost buckets all around campus The funds themselves were created from campus parking revenues. The high cost of parking does cause frustration for the destitute university student; however, knowledge that your change is funding green change might ease the havoc of pay-parking. The deadline for green proposals is just around the corner on October 12". Project proposals are accepted by the Green University Planning Committee (GUPC) which is a multi-stake holder committee of senior administration, staff, faculty, students, and campus groups including the Prince George Public Interest Research Group and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. The proposals are welcome to be submitted by students, staff, faculty, and other campus based organizations. The general purpose of the fund is to kick start green ideas and get pilot projects up and running. Those projects awarded a grant will be assigned a GUPC working group or a GUPC member for supervision and will be asked to submit a performance report which will document the project’s efforts at both midpoint and completion of the project. Programs like UNBC’s Green Fund are the perfect opportunity to finally put ideas into actions. The Green Fund will enable patrons of UNBC to actually get involved with sustainable work aiming to create an even more environmentally friendly university. While not all students or individuals at large have the time or resources to create and see through a Green proposal, there are small things people can do to be a more green individual. Although statements such as these are at risk of becoming clichéd actions, such as bringing your own cup or reusable bag and recycling, but these can and do have an impact. Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format to the Green University Planning Committee before 4:30 pm on October 12". ONLINE SOURCE To register or not to register? It’s not like we all have 2 2 guns, right? The BCUP is on educotional six- meanth opportunity fer Canadian university graduates to work in British Columbia’s porliamentary system Your ocademic training will be anhonced by exposure to public policy-making and the legislative process by warking in the executive LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP and legislotive branches of the provincial government at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria Program . they have o Bochelor’s Degree from a Canedian university within twa years 2012 of the stort of the 2012 program, PROGRAM DIRECTOR Apoily online at Koren L. Adken * Legislative Assembly of B.C. www. leg.bc.ca/belip BCUP@leg.be.ca Deadline January 31, 2011 Dr. Patrick J. Smith Location: Parliament Buiklings, Victoria, B,C. Terms Jonuary 4 to dune 22, 2017 Remuneration; $21,075 for six months Simon Froser University pamithafug@gmallcom ACADEMIC ADVISOR Br. Tracy Summerville University of Northern BC sumumerviaunbe.co