Public Safety committee  First off, police in Canada are not notified when a person obtains an authorization to transport. In the provinces in Canada, people who are routinely going to shooting clubs and ranges receive an authorization to transport. I have some in front of me that I've had over the years, and one recently given to an individual I know.

Public Safety committee  I concur with my colleague. This is very common sense, and it enhances the safety and security of people in the public by seeing that people who have used firearms in a domestic violence situation are restrained from having access to them.

Public Safety committee  I've never encountered that, sir, insomuch as having taken a complaint from any individual having lost or had their firearms stolen because they were improperly stored in their vehicle. I do know of instances where police officers in various cities have had their firearms stolen out of vehicles, not because they weren't properly stored but because the individual who broke into their vehicle was able to find them.

Public Safety committee  Mr. Easter, I think one of the things that's been left out of the discussion is the fact that when a person completes a Canadian firearm safety course test there is a practical aspect to it. They have to demonstrate knowledge and ability in the handling of firearms to a degree. This doesn't involve shooting or firing the firearm, although it certainly could be expanded to that, but there is a component of demonstrating the knowledge to safely handle the firearm.

Public Safety committee  I certainly can. If the person is stopped and if you are checking them and if they have firearms with them, certainly the first thing a police officer's going to do is ask them for their licence. If they happen to have a restricted licence, you will notice that on the back. If the individual has his restricted firearms or prohibited firearms with him, the condition on the back of the licence will indicate automatically the terms under which he can transport those.

Public Safety committee  If I may just make one more point here, sir, the person who's in possession of a restricted and prohibited firearm has been vetted by the CFO of every respective province, and they have been deemed worthy of having these firearms. A great number of conditions are put on people who have them, and as long as these people haven't come into non-compliance with the law, the chances of your ever seeing them or even knowing that they're transporting firearms is really limited because they take precautions of their own given the very nature of the firearms they have.

Public Safety committee  I share your concern about the availability of courses, as does my colleague Mr. Mauser. Certainly it is of concern to me that access to Canadian firearms safety courses for people in remote areas is limited. People who live in northern Quebec are the same as people who live in northern Saskatchewan.

Public Safety committee  I believe that there's nothing that's going to take and diminish the safety of Canadians whatsoever. In fact, I believe that the changes made to sections 109 and 110 of the Criminal Code in relation to domestic violence and redefining people in an intimate relationship will enhance the safety of the public by prohibiting persons who have been convicted of violence or threats of violence towards anyone within that clause....

Public Safety committee  I can. As I outlined in my opening remarks, it's not an automatic renewal. The licence is merely extended for a period of six months to allow the person who for reasons of either being away from Canada or for not having received their renewal notice, because many within Canada are certainly moving about because job markets are transient in nature....

Public Safety committee  No, sir. The people who are supplying you that information are incorrect. The screening that goes on for a person who has a POL is exactly that for a person who has a PAL. At the time of renewal, they go through the same rigorous background checks as a person with a PAL. They've been doing so since 2001, which was the final date that you could obtain a POL.

Public Safety committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, honourable members of the committee, and fellow witnesses, it's an honour and privilege for me to appear before you today to assist you in your deliberations of Bill C-42, the common-sense firearms licensing act. I'm a retired sergeant of the Saskatoon Police Service with over 26 years of service protecting the citizens of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan.

Public Safety committee  Good morning, sir. I can hear you fine. Thank you.

Public Safety committee  My presentation says I cannot and will not swear out a warrant based on the information contained in it. For me to obtain a search warrant, I have to swear before a judge or justice that I invariably believe the information contained in it to be true. If I include anything from the firearms registry, I can't swear out the warrant.

Public Safety committee  I do. As I said in my presentation, I believe that training, screening, and licensing of owners are the cornerstones of it.

Public Safety committee  I disagree with their statement.