Evidence of meeting #21 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was death.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Dirk Ryneveld  Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner of British Columbia
Paul E. Kennedy  Chair, Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Norlock Conservative Northumberland—Quinte West, ON

Mr. Kennedy.

March 5th, 2008 / 5:10 p.m.

Chair, Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Paul E. Kennedy

I likewise haven't called for a moratorium on it. I think it fits with appropriate training and use. We have to bear in mind, and it may flow from the poor training, poor use, and some of the bad examples we have seen, that there is an impact on the public's acceptance.

Somehow it does provoke a response from the public that is different from a baton and a gun, believe it or not. You don't have the same outcry as to a taser. The military can blow each other to tiny little atoms, but you're not allowed to use poison gas; you're not allowed to blind someone. There is a hidden element that we have to get our minds around as well, which is public acceptance of the appropriateness.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Norlock Conservative Northumberland—Quinte West, ON

Thank you.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

We're out of time.

We thank our witnesses very much, and we appreciate your testimony here.

We're going to suspend for 30 seconds to clear the room. We will come back immediately and go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]