Ottawa — Industry Minister Allan Rock defended the government's gun registry Sunday saying he doesn't think the massive cost overrun will hurt his potential Liberal leadership ambitions.

"If I run, I've always intended to advertise an association with what I think is a terrific achievement in the prime minister's government," Mr. Rock told CTV's Question Period.

"My point is, 'let's not undermine the law', which is sound."

Auditor General Sheila Fraser revealed last week that the gun registry, which was originally budgeted to cost the government $2-million, will cost $1-billion by 2005.

Mr. Rock introduced the national gun registry in 1995 when he was justice minister.

He said "circumstances change" and blamed some provinces, the gun lobby and the Alliance for some of the increase in costs.

"When I appeared before a Commons committee in 1995, I gave honest answers about our cost calculations," Mr. Rock said.

"If there are problems with cost overruns, let's fix them, but the underlying program is good."

When the program was introduced, an estimated cost of $119-million cost was supposed to be offset by $117-million in registration fees, making the actual cost to taxpayers $2-million.

Mr. Rock and Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who also appeared Sunday on Question Period, pointed to the public safety aspects of the program when pressed on why such a large jump in cost was not communicated to Parliament.

"I'm fully committed to gun control," Mr. Cauchon said. "Yes, I'm concerned as a minister and Canadians have a right to be concerned. And we will fix it and have a good registry."

Mr. Rock said no single department or bureaucrat is responsible for the bloated cost of the program.

"It's a government responsibility," said Mr. Rock. "We all collectively took part in this. We ran on a platform of gun control."

On Thursday, the government withdrew a request for an additional $72-million in funding for the project. But both ministers promised that funding for the program will continue after the administrative problems are corrected.