RCMP Superintendent Marty Cheliak speaks to reporters about the Mayerthorpe shootings in Edmonton on March 21, 2005.
Later today, a conference of police chiefs will hear a report stressing the importance of the national long-gun registry, even though the man who co-chaired the committee producing it won't be there.
RCMP Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak was originally supposed to present the report just weeks before Parliament resumes debate on a Conservative private member's bill that would kill the national long-gun registry.
But Supt. Cheliak was recently replaced as the head of the Canadian Firearms Program and sent for French training, meaning he won't be attending this week's Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Edmonton.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, who also sits on the association's special working group on the registry, says the report will instead be presented by Supt. Brad Doucette of the Edmonton police on Monday.
"It includes reference to a number of different programs including the firearms centre in Ottawa, which of course includes the long-gun registry," said Chief Blair, who is in Edmonton attending the conference.
Chief Blair said the report will be presented in private first, and then to the public immediately afterwards.
Critics have questioned the timing of Supt. Cheliak's French training, accusing the Harper government of using the language requirement as an excuse to take the registry supporter out of the spotlight just as the issue comes up for debate in Parliament.
Both Mr. Harper and RCMP commissioner William Elliot deny that is the case.
Commissioner Elliot further stated last week that Supt. Cheliak had been head of the firearms registry on an acting basis only.
Chief Blair wouldn't comment when asked for his own opinion on Supt. Cheliak's removal, saying he respects the RCMP's abilities to make its own decisions.
He did, however, talk about Supt. Cheliak's contribution to the gun file.
"Marty went right across the country and educated police officers, police unions and police leaders in how that information could be used to keep our communities safe," said Chief Blair.
"In every place he went, people became more effective in their jobs. Those communities became safer as a direct result of his work."
Supt. Cheliak was presented in absentia with an award for his work at the conference on Sunday.