I am informed by the Solicitor General of Canada and the Department of National Defence as follows.
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, RCMP
a) Following is the list of incidents where firearms have been stolen from RCMP establishments and from members of the RCMP in Canada for the period 1993 to 1997:
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"A" DIVISION-95 Sep 07: An RCMP service revolver was stolen from a member's residence. The gun was properly stored. The stolen gun has not been recovered and no charges have been laid.
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"B" DIVISION-97 Jan 16: An RCMP service revolver was stolen from the locked trunk of a locked unmarked police vehicle. The theft is being investigated by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the investigation is ongoing at the present time. The firearm has not been recovered.
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"C" DIVISION-1993: An RCMP firearm went missing during a move in 1993. The weapon was recovered. No further details are available as the relevant file has since been destroyed.
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"D" DIVISION-96 Nov 14: An RCMP gun and two clips were stolen from a duffle bag which was in a locked van in downtown Winnipeg. The theft occurred in Winnipeg Police jurisdiction and has been investigated with negative results. The items still have not been recovered. No charges have been laid.
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"E" DIVISION-Apr 1993: A member reported his firearm missing from his personal effects and it still has not been recovered. No charges have been laid.
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"E" DIVISION-Sep 1996: A member's service revolver was stolen from his residence. The firearm has not been recovered. charges have not been laid.
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"F" DIVISION-93 Mar 27: A member's service revolver was stolen from a locked steel cabinet in his residence during the course of a Break and Enter while the member was away on leave. The revolver has not been recovered and no charges were laid.
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"H" DIVISION-93 Aug 05/06: A member's service revolver was stolen from his residence while he was away on leave and has not been recovered. No charges were laid.
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"H" DIVISION-93 Dec 17: A member's service revolver was stolen from his vehicle while it was parked at CFB Halifax. The gun has not been recovered and no charges were laid.
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"H" DIVISION-94 Apr 21: A revolver was stolen from a briefcase which was left inside the locked trunk of a police vehicle. The revolver was recovered one month later when it was purchased by a Halifax Police Department informant and it was returned to the RCMP.
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"J" DIVISION-95 Dec 23: An RCMP 9mm was stolen from a member's private residence in the city of Moncton, N.B. The theft was investigated by Moncton Police Department and the firearm has not been recovered.
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"J" DIVISION-96 Nov 03: An RCMP 9mm was stolen from a member's residence in Tracadie-Sheila, N.B. The theft was investigated by the Tracadie-Sheila Police Department and the firearm was recovered and charges were laid.
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"J" DIVISION-96 Nov 07: An RCMP 9mm was stolen from a member's private residence in Moncton, N.B. The theft was investigated by Moncton Police Department and the firearm has not been recovered.
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"K" DIVISION-93 Jun 24: Extra firearms were required for training and stored overnight at a gun club within the City of Edmonton where the training was being conducted. The weapons were secured in a vault. When the weapons were retrieved the next day, it was discovered that one service revolver had been stolen. The weapon remains unrecovered. No charges have been laid.
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"K" DIVISION-96 Aug 17: A member's service revolver was stolen from a private residence during a Break and Enter. The revolver has been recovered and investigation for unsafe storage of a firearm is currently ongoing.
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"K" DIVISION-95 Sep 20: A member's RCMP revolver was reported missing. The details of this case are not available at this time as an investigation is ongoing.
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"O" DIVISION-95 Jun 17: A member's revolver sank to the bottom of a lake while the member was on routine patrol on Lake Nippissing. The revolver has not been recovered. No charges have been laid.
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"O" DIVISION-95 Aug 16/18: A member's service pistol was stolen from his residence during the course of a Break and Enter. The service pistol was stored properly at the time of the theft. The pistol was later returned by the thieves who threw the pistol into the member's backyard. No charges have been laid.
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"DEPOT" DIVISION-An RCMP pistol was either lost or stolen approximately two years ago. Further details are unavailable.
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"DEPOT" DIVISION-A recent incident involves an RCMP S&W 5946 pistol which was lost/stolen while in transit with a courier company. An investigation is being conducted with respect to this incident.
b) According to Section 3(1)d) of the Regulations pertaining to Part III of the Criminal Code, the RCMP is exempt from the storage regulations subject to subsection 3(3) of the same Regulations. Section 3(3) states that the exemption applies when firearms are stored in a dwelling house or permission is given by a supervisor.
The RCMP published clear operational directives stating that its members are responsible for the use, safety and storage of their firearms at all times. Any neglect of these directives is considered a breach of the Regulations and is an offence under Section 86(3) of the Criminal Code. When the firearm of a member of the RCMP is lost or stolen, the assessment of the situation includes a decision as to whether or not Section 86(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada has been breached.
With respect to these types of incidents as they pertain to provincial and municipal police forces or police officers, the RCMP's information is very limited. Since other police forces are not required to report to the RCMP incidents of loss or theft of their firearms, the RCMP's Operational Reporting System does not accurately provide information in this regard.
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, DND
a) Following is the list of incidents where firearms have been stolen from military establishments and from members of the Armed Forces in Canada for the period 1993 to 1996:
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Incident DS-0040-28 Aug 93: A 32 calibre was stolen from a hotel room in which the service member was staying. Pistol was being used for an escort of a large sum of money. An investigation was conducted and the firearm was recovered.
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Incident DS-0041-17 Dec 93: A 38 calibre pistol was stolen from RCMP officer's car while parked at CFB Halifax. An investigation was conducted and the firearm was not recovered.
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Incident DS-0517-16 Apr 94: Two 22 calibre rifles were stolen during a Break and Enter from a Cadet Corps storage area. An investigation was conducted and the firearms were not recovered.
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Incident DS-3212-24 Jul 94: Two 177 calibre air pellet rifles were stolen during a Break and Enter from a Cadet Corps weapons locker. An investigation was conducted and the firearms were not recovered.
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Incident DS-1989-26 Sep 94: Two 22 calibre rifles and a 177 calibre air pellet rifle were stolen from a Cadet Corps storage area. An investigation was conducted and the firearms were recovered.
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Incident DS-1400-26 Jul 95: A Luger pistol was stolen from a secure display cabinet within an Armoury. An investigation was conducted and the firearm was not recovered.
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Incident DS-1164-21 May 95: A Smith and Wesson 32 calibre was recovered by Winnipeg City Police. The hand gun had been stolen from a Permanent Married Quarter at CFB Shilo without the owner's knowledge. Weapon was stored in accordance with Section 86(3) of the Criminal Code. An investigation was conducted and the firearm was recovered. No charges were laid.
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Incident DS-0525-11 Feb 95: A 410 shogun and a Winchester 30-30 rifle were stolen during a Break and Enter at a Permanent Married Quarter at CFB Halifax. Weapons were stored in accordance with Section 86(3) of the Criminal Code. An investigation was conducted and the firearms were not recovered. No charges were laid.
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Incident DS-1916-21 Dec 94: A 22, a 357, and a 9mm pistol were stolen from a Permanent Married Quarter at CFB Halifax during a Break and Enter. Weapons were stored in accordance with Section 86(3) of the Criminal Code. An investigation was conducted and the firearms were not recovered. No charges were laid.
b) Since the Canadian Forces are exempt from Section 86(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada, the above incidents (1) through (6) cannot be considered violations of that legislation and therefore, charges were not laid. Incidents (7), (8) and (9) were thefts from private residences in which the weapons were stored in accordance with Section 86(3) of the Criminal Code.
Question No. 92-