Scott's DiaTribes

Just a note to Jack Layton and company in the NDP’s leadership circle over the upcoming vote(s?) on the “private members bill” to try and kill the long-gun registry (actually, the first vote will be a Liberal amendment motion to kill Bill C-391 off entirely):

- A regular private members bill does not get unprecedented advertising from the sitting government in key ridings of opposition members urging their constituents to tell them to vote to support the “private members bill”, as has happened here.

- Yes, a private member’s bill normally doesn’t get whipped by the party leadership, but as related over here in Impolitical’s update and according to London Liberal MP Glen Pearson, he’s been told privately by some Conservative MP’s that they’re being whipped to vote for this “private member’s bill” privately behind the scenes, which would be a good reason why you didn’t see any urban riding MP’s from the Conservatives – areas that are more likely to support the long-gun registry then against – break ranks last time to vote for this, and likely won’t again, if there’s a secret whip being done on them.

In short, this is what I’ll term a PMBINO – A Private Members Bill In Name Only – and Jack and the NDP are letting themselves get suckered into allowing a key piece of Harper’s agenda to pass via the Private Members Bill back-door – a move Harper and CO. did, because they calculated they could get this through, knowing the conventional government bill would fail on whipped party-line votes. The Liberal Party fell for this trick once, and smartened up, enforcing the Party whip this time.. but only after making key proposals/compromises to their cause to modify the current long-gun registry so that fines are not enforced on those who register, etc.

Rather then whining in the papers that the voters who support keeping the long-gun registry should not be blaming the NDP if the registry gets killed, Jack should stop being naive and realize the Harper government is playing the NDP for suckers. The NDP has always claimed it is the party that stands up the most against the Harper agenda in the House of Commons; well, here’s it’s chance to really walk the walk – a chance to make a difference, rather then a symbolic vote or putting forth a symbolic motion/amendment against.

As for electoral considerations, and if those are also what’s in play here over principles, the NDP should remember that for every rural riding the NDP fears it may lose because of that member voting to keep the gun registry, it’s going to be pummelled in its urban ridings and in its lone Quebec riding as failing to keep the registry. Rest assured that the Liberals will be reinforcing that message in every NDP held riding in Urban Canada and in Outremont, if the NDP fail to stop Bill C-391 from passing.

Do the right thing, Jack; put forth some compromises like the Liberals did to their members, and then whip your vote, to kill this farce of a Private Members Bill. Don’t allow a part of the Harperite agenda to be put in by back-door stealth.

UPDATE: A normally sympathetic blogger to the NDP who’s ticked with Jack’s hide in the sand manoeuvrer on this bill lists the NDP’s key members who need to be lobbied by the public. I’m not sure if that will work or not, since there are at least 2 or 3 NDP members who truly believe the registry should die, while others might be too scared to vote against the gun bill (without having a whip used), because of what more nasty things the Harper Conservatives might say in their ridings, but it can’t hurt to try.

IMO, writing a note or calling Jack Layton’s office to argue this is a sham private members bill (for the reasons listed above) and to urge him to whip the vote is the better tactic. Heck, maybe twittering him would work as well.

UPDATE 2 @ 3:53 pm: On a related note, Jeff takes a look at that Angus-Reid poll today, and finds the findings aren’t as discouraging for pro-gun registry advocates and pro-gun control advocates as some Conservatives would have you believe… in fact, those findings are purposely left out.. and for good reason:

Continue reading To Jack Layton & NDP on the gun registry vote; don’t get played by Harper on this.