Backbench Liberal MPs joined the opposition in calling for heads
to roll over the $1-billion federal gun registry scandal and
cast doubt on whether they will back further spending in
a key vote today.
The House of Commons is to vote on an additional
$71 million in funding for the bloated program after Conservative
MP Peter MacKay raised an objection during question period yesterday.
Liberal backbencher Joe Comuzzi of northern Ontario called for an
immediate freeze on all spending on the program. He said
he was unsure how he would vote today on the
funding request, which has been submitted to Treasury Board.
Financial issues are traditionally seen as votes of confidence in
the government and MPs are expected to support the government
line. It's not clear how many backbenchers might vote against
the funding. Last month, Prime Minister Jean Chretien lost a
showdown with his backbenchers over the issue of electing caucus
chairs, but that was not a confidence vote.
"We've got to put a stop to this," Comuzzi said
of the registry spending, which was originally supposed to cost
taxpayers only $2 million.
Calls for resignations from both Liberals and opposition MPs continued
to pile up, one day after Auditor General Sheila Fraser
slammed the gun registry for runaway spending that was never
properly reported.
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