Stoffer switches sides: NDP MP will vote to save long-gun registry
Posted Sep 20, 2010 08:31:53 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Sackville-Eastern Shore MP Peter Stoffer says he will vote to maintain the controversial long-gun registry.
The New Democrat MP said at a news conference this morning that although he remains personally opposed to the registry, the majority of his constituents support it.
Stoffer says he lives in a representative democracy and at the end of the day, he must represent his constituents.
The vote on the registry, which has tested the unity of the Liberal and New Democratic parties, is expected on Wednesday.
Stoffer, who represents the riding of Sackville-Eastern Shore, had previously said he wouldn’t support the gun registry because it doesn’t provide effective gun control.
NDP Leader Jack Layton said after a caucus meeting in Regina last week that he had persuaded enough of his MPs to change their vote and thwart the Conservatives, though Stoffer says he was not pressured into changing his mind.
This week’s vote is expected to be close and no one is venturing a prediction on the outcome.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff will compel his caucus to vote to save the registry.
