Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 01/02) - Nunavut Tunngavik is highly critical of the federal government's decision to shut down the territory's only firearms office.

John Lamb, NTI's chief executive officer, said the decision to close the office without consulting the land claims organization is problematic. He said it is hindering the working partnership NTI struck with the federal government to try and make gun legislation work in Nunavut.

"It's going to cause real problems. There's no way around that. The process of getting Inuit applicants processed is already slow," said Lamb.

"You've got people who are unilingual Inuktitut speakers who have questions, who want their applications dealt with, who may have appeals or whatever the situation is. How do they get their position listened to now?"

Since the closure, service in Inuktitut is restricted to a hotline NTI established for beneficiaries. Lamb was adamant that the hotline not be used to replace federal government services.

"It was intended to be an additional service to beneficiaries that would complement what the government's responsibilities were," said Lamb. "We have no interest in taking over the government's role."

Under new legislation, Canadians who own firearms are required to carry a licence. The centre has repeatedly stated that 90 per cent of the estimated 2.3 million gun-owners in the country have complied with the law, but officials in Nunavut estimate that hundreds of the territory's 6,600 gun-owners are still waiting for their licenses.

Elsewhere in the country, energy is now focused on registering firearms. But in Nunavut, applicants are still trying to secure licences. Lamb said the closure would do nothing to help speed up the snail-like process.

"It's going to grind the whole thing to a screeching halt," he said.

While a spokesperson for the Canadian Firearms Centre called the closure temporary and said services for Nunavummiut were being provided out of Regina, he was unable to say when the office would reopen.

Lamb said NTI officials planned to talk to CFC officials about their decision in Ottawa this week.

"This process is not good ... We're certainly going to register our concern loud and clear," said Lamb. "It's not appropriate for this situation to last for very long. That's the position we're presenting in Ottawa."