The Yukon's Conservative Senator Dan Lang again slammed the federal Liberals' proposed compromise for legislation aimed at abolishing the long-gun registry.

"That's smoke and mirrors; it's absolute smoke and mirrors, and I think it's an insult to anybody that knows the issue,” Lang told the Star Wednesday during a Conservative fund-raiser in Whitehorse organized by the party's B.C./Yukon caucus.

"I bet less than 10 per cent of the Liberal caucus has had to apply and go through this ... it's probably closer to five,” Lang said.

"And I tell you, it's not a process I would recommend to everybody; it's time-consuming, and at the end of the day, what does it do for anybody?”

A day earlier, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff told reporters that every police chief he's spoken to in Canada supports the long-gun registry (see coverage, p. 5).

As an alternative to scrapping it, the Liberals have proposed decriminalizing the failure to register long guns, simplifying the process and eliminating fees.

Lang called an amnesty for a first-time offence of failing to register a gun "like coming out and saying you're half-pregnant.”

The Yukon's Liberal MP, Larry Bagnell, who twice voted to support the Conservative bill to kill the registry, now said he supports his party's proposed amendments and would vote with the Liberal caucus on the matter.

To date, more than 1.8 million Canadians have registered firearms, and Lang is among the 6,001gun owners in the Yukon with valid registration for their firearms.

On Tuesday, Ignatieff called it a "funny coincidence” the Conservatives' B.C./Yukon caucus met in Whitehorse at the same time his "Liberal-Express” arrived in town, but Lang dismissed the suggestion there was any attempt to steal the Liberal leader's thunder.

"These things are planned months in advance,” Lang said of his party's western caucus meeting, before crediting Ignatieff with visiting the territory.

"I think it's great he's here; it shows that the Yukon is important.”

On Wednesday morning, Lang and Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris – one of 18 Conservative MPs and senators in the territory this week on caucus business – announced more than $190,000 in Heritage Canada dollars for the Kwanlin Dun First Nation.

The funding, to be meted out over two years, is to develop a permanent exhibit for the Kwanlin Dun's new cultural centre currently under construction in Whitehorse along the banks of the Yukon River.

"Whitehorse has a vibrant and diverse society, and our government is proud to invest in organizations that support our heritage,” said Harris.

"I commend the Kwanlin Dun First Nation on its work in preserving and promoting aboriginal culture.”

All proceeds from the Conservatives' B.C./Yukon caucus fund-raiser will go to the Whitehorse Food Bank.