OTTAWA – New Democrat leader Jack Layton today called on Prime Minister Harper and Opposition leaders to stop playing cynical political games and work to strengthen gun control and respect rural concerns.

“Stephen Harper is pitting Canadian region against Canadian region with his all or nothing show-down. This is un-Canadian,” said Layton. “This is the poisonous politics of the United States. Not the nation-building politics of Canada.”

“Rural, northern and Aboriginal Canadians have been ignored for too long,” continued Layton. “We reject Stephen Harper’s offensive stereotype that their priorities begin and end with guns. That’s why New Democrats are fighting for rural and northern priorities: healthcare, broadband, and solutions for the family farm.”

New Democrats understand that stopping gun violence has always been a priority for rural and urban Canadians and outlined measures to address serious concerns about the registry raised by rural Canadians, while strengthening public safety.

“This debate has been going on for 15 years in this country and successive Prime Ministers have failed Canadians time and time again on this issue,” said Layton. “Real leadership is about finding solutions that bring us together. Instead of all or nothing brinksmanship that divides Canadians – let’s build bridges between urban and rural Canada that puts public safety first.”