Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 05/02) - The Area Firearms Office in Nunavut remains closed some three months after a spokesperson for the Canadian Firearms Centre said it would reopen.

Don Labelle, the manager of communications for the Northwest Region for the Canadian Firearms Centre, said the long delay was caused by the RCMP.

"The office will open as soon as the security clearance goes through. We have no control over that. It's the RCMP," said Labelle, from his office in Edmonton last Monday afternoon.

"There must be a backload of people (awaiting security clearance) right across the country," he said.

The Nunavut office, which helps issue Firearms Possession and Acquisition licences to Nunavummiut and assists with the registration process, closed in March due to a staffing matter.

Labelle said the CFC had a candidate in mind for the job, but couldn't proceed until the police gave them the green light.

"I just keep hoping and praying it's going to be soon," he said.

In the meantime, Nunavummiut with questions about firearms legislation must continue to contact the Yellowknife office.

Service in Inuktitut is not available.