Candace Hoeppner, the Conservative MP whose private member's bill to scrap the long-gun registry was defeated last year, visited Whitehorse over the weekend to remind voters how Liberal-incumbent Larry Bagnell flip-flopped on supporting her bill.

"I think the people in this area recognize that their member of Parliament did fail them on that issue and it will be something that I'm going to be talking about,” Hoeppner told local reporters Friday afternoon at Conservative candidate Ryan Leef's campaign headquarters.

Last September, Bagnell voted in favour of a motion to defeat Hoeppner's Bill C-391, ensuring that the long-gun registry would remain – this in spite of voting to support it on two previous occasions.

In the lead-up to the vote that scuttled Hoeppner's bill, she visited the Yukon to drum up support for her cause and shame Bagnell for changing his stance.

But the trouble for Bagnell started this time last year, after Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff told the Canadian Police Association his party would oppose Hoeppner's bill and he would whip the Liberal caucus to fall in line.

Bagnell was one of eight Liberal MPs to support Hoeppner's bill in the House of Commons on first and second readings.

One independent MP and a dozen NDP members also sided with Hoeppner, but unlike Ignatieff, NDP Leader Jack Layton – a supporter of the long-gun registry – is allowing his caucus a free vote, generally allowed by all parties when MPs are faced with a private member's bill.

When Ignatieff visited Whitehorse in August 2010, he said the Liberal party opposed abolishing the registry "because every single police chief that I've talked to says they need it as a matter of course.”

At Leef's campaign headquarters, Hoeppner described Bagnell's vote against her bill as crucial, particularly when it came down to a 153 to 151 split.

She said she would be taking that message to Yukoners' doorsteps.

"The bill was defeated by two votes, and if Larry had stood up and had fulfilled his commitment, that would've been one vote closer,” said Hoeppner.

"So the people of the Yukon will have a chance to say, ‘yes, that was acceptable, Larry' or ‘no, that was not acceptable, and we want a new member of Parliament.'”

Asked if the long-gun registry is a top issue for Yukoners, Hoeppner sidestepped the question and suggested voters in the territory want an MP within government as opposed to without.

"Having a voice at the government table is very important for Yukoners, and I think that's something people realize,” Hoeppner said.

"They have a member of Parliament in opposition, and most likely (he) will continue in opposition.”

Asked whether he would defy the party leader if faced with a whipped vote that contradicted the wishes of Yukoners, Leef responded in the affirmative, but didn't anticipate such an occasion.

"Quite honestly, I'm not sure if I envision myself ever being in a position where the Conservative government conflicts with the vast majority of Yukoners,” said Leef.

"That said, if we get pressed into a corner on this issue, I'm going to Ottawa for Yukoners, I'm not going to Ottawa for myself, I'm not going there for a job.

"So to answer your question in a very direct fashion – I will vote onside with the Yukon.”

Earlier in the campaign, after Leef made similar declarations, Bagnell called his Conservative challenger naive.

"(Conservative MPs) have always toed the line on whipped votes, and if Ryan (did otherwise) he would be kicked out of the party; he would have to break that promise,” Bagnell said.

There's a price for going against one's party, the MP added, chalking up Leef's comments to his rookie status.

"My position has always been the same. I would never leave the party (over the registry), but I give him the benefit of the doubt that he doesn't know that because he's new,” said Bagnell.

"I could never have won the battles I won in Parliament (being outside the party) ... you need to have allies.”

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