Firearms workers protest while Flaherty visits

"We were told with the abolishment of long gun registration we wouldn't have to worry about losing any jobs or any positions," said Kelly McKay, a member of the Public  Service Alliance of Canada. "Yet nobody has given us a plan or shown anything of what may or could happen if that would be the case."

MPs voted 164 to 137 to scrap the long-gun registry in November. Miramichi MP Tilly O'Neill-Gordon has repeatedly said no jobs would be lost at the firearms centre. On a visit to the Miramichi in February, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the same. 

In November, an RCMP spokesman reported only around 10 of the centre's 200 employees were directly involved in long-gun registration. McKay acknowledged O'Neill-Gordon had said no jobs would be lost.

"She's told us that numerous times," she said. However, she said the employees were still concerned, as they hadn't received any kind of plan from their employers as to how the jobs at the centre will be organized to ensure none are lost, leaving them concerned.

"They haven't brought forward anything for what is going to replace [them] if they are taken away." The protesters heard the finance minister would be at the Rodd for round- table pre-budget discussions at 1 p.m., and hoped to meet him there. 

As it happened, Flaherty was apparently at the Goodie Shop at 1 p.m., meeting with local business leaders, and one of his staff acknowledged several people thought he would be at the Rodd, although she wasn't sure where the impression came from.

At a press conference in the afternoon in Loggieville, where Flaherty was visiting, the finance minister did address the issue. "There will not be a decline in the employment by the federal government in that regard," he said. When pressed by reporters, he said: "This is a large government with many jobs. The commitment has been ... that will be no job loss for the employees, and that is our commitment."

When asked if that meant some of the jobs at the centre may have to be moved elsewhere, possibly out of Miramichi, he answered: "There'll be no job loss. There can be replacement jobs, there can be other kinds of jobs with the federal government. The concern is with employment here in Miramichi, and that's what we're concerned about."

Flaherty was in Miramichi for several hours Monday.

Wed Jan 20, 2010