underscore,
I just did some fact checking since when I wrote the previous post, here are some good tidbits of information:
1. The conception (1995): The government says the registry will cost about $119 million, but the revenue generated by registration fees would mean taxpayers would only be on the hook for $2 million.
2. 2001: The cost has risen to an estimated $527 million
3. 2002: The tab for implementing the registry rises to $629 million, according to an audit of the registry. Here is a breakdown of the bulk of the spending: $2 million to help police enforce legislation, at least $60 million for public-relations programs, including television commercials ($18 million of which went to ad agency GroupAction, which received millions in sponsorship scandal contracts) and $227 million in computer costs. Complicated application forms are slowing processing times and driving costs higher than anticipated. Then there is $332 million for other programming costs, including money to pay staff to process the forms.
4. 2003: Audit reveals the program costs $1 billion
5. 2004: Firearm registry now costs $2 billion
More info:
The rise and fall of Canada's long-gun registry - CBC News - Latest Canada, World, Entertainment and Business News
Over the course of 9 years, if $2 billion was spent on it, I would hardly consider it something to scoff at.