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NWT - A Conservative MP says Dennis Bevington can't stand up for Northerners if he remains seated during votes in Ottawa.

On Wednesday, Western Arctic MP Bevington sat out a non-binding vote on the long-gun registry, which is set to expire May 16. The motion, raised by a Parti Quebecois MP, called for an end to the current amnesty on gun registration.

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington: "These parties are using the gun registry as a political football." - NNSL file photo

Bevington said the outcome of the non-binding motion had no effect on the government and it had only been raised to counter Conservative talk of scrapping the registry.

"It has no impact on the government policy," he said. However, Brad Trost, a Conservative MP from Saskatoon-Humboldt - who has worked as an exploration geo-physicist in all three territories - said it was the easiest chance for Bevington to show his opposition to the registry.

"Yesterday was just a vote on the principal and the principal is the simplest element of the whole debate," said Trost.

He said Bevington - who he counts as a friend - has told him on numerous occasions that he opposes the long gun registry.

"Yesterday was a good chance for him to show it," said Trost.

Trost said the amnesty on the registry was put in place to help people who may have had problems registering their rifles and shotguns, including elders.

"I am very much hoping the voters of the Northwest Territories get Dennis out of his seat and get him to vote with what I think is the overwhelming view with the NWT," he said.

"If you are opposed to it, you vote against it. If you are for it, you vote in support of it," said Trost. The only opposition MP to oppose the motion was Larry Bagnell, who represents the Yukon.

Bevington said the Conservative government brought forward legislation last June to change the registry and said he spoke in support of it at that time. He also questioned the Conservatives' methods of dealing with the issue.

"If the Conservatives are so concerned about the gun registry, don't bring forward private members' bills, don't bring it forward in the senate where it can be voted down by the Liberals," he said. "Bring it to Parliament."

"These parties are using the gun registry as a political football," he said. "And I'm not going to play those games."

Bevington made opposition to the long-gun registry a rallying cry of his 2000 campaign, in which he ousted Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

Trost said the Conservatives are working on a bill - C-301 - to scrap the registry, which was introduced to the Senate earlier this month. He said the NDP is welcome to help craft the bill or other legislation that will oppose the gun registry.

Bevington confirmed his commitment to changing the current rules around gun registration.

"I want to see the government actually bring forward changes to the registry that would work for people in the North."