Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the replacement of the RCMP's acting director for the Canadian Firearms Program was a decision made by the Mounties, without political interference.

"This is an RCMP staffing matter, it's not a political matter," he told reporters at a news conference in Nova Scotia.

The Mounties announced Chief Supt. Jeff Francis is now serving as the acting director general of the Canadian Firearms Program, taking over for Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak.

Cheliak had been serving as head of the Canadian Firearms Program, which oversees the controversial long-gun registry, for the past year.

According to a release from the Mounties, the director-general position is a bilingual job and Cheliak "does not currently meet the linguistic requirements of the position."

The RCMP says it has identified a new director-general who will be announced shortly.

At present, Cheliak is on leave, after which "he will be pursuing French language training," the RCMP said in the release.

The change at the firearms program comes only weeks before Parliament is due to resume debate on a private member's bill to kill the long-gun registry.

Harper said that while the government favours the abolition of the long-gun registry, there are a number of firearms control measures it supports that will stay in place.

Liberal MP David McGuinty said it appeared there was a political dimension to removing Cheliak from his position with the firearms program.

And he thinks the Conservative government and RCMP Commissioner William Elliott "owe Canadians an explanation" as to why Cheliak was removed from his position.

"Why would this be happening? (Cheliak) has been a very diligent advocate for the continuation of the gun registry, for the improvement of the gun registry, for the refining of it," McGuinty told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.

"The vast majority of Canadians believe there is a need for a gun registry in Canada."

McGuinty said the Liberal Party is calling for Cheliak's reinstatement.

Cheliak first joined the RCMP in 1979, completing his field training in Regina.

He then served in Manitoba, the Yukon, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Nunavut.

Last May, Cheliak appeared before a Commons committee, telling MPs the information provided by the registry "is vital to the prevention and investigation of crime related to firearems."

Cheliak was scheduled to speak at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in Edmonton next week, a speech that was to include information about the efficacy of the registry. He was also to receive an award for his work on firearms issues.

"Couldn't the language training wait another week?" wondered Canadian Police Association president Charles Momy.

It is unlikely Cheliak will deliver that speech as scheduled. However, an RCMP spokesperson said Cheliak can attend the conference to accept his award.

With files from The Canadian Press