Public Safety committee  Mr. Chairman, to clarify, the port of entry doesn't have to be a land port; it could be by air as well.

Public Safety committee  My understanding, and I may ask Mr. Murdock to elaborate, is that it's in order to be able to travel, for example, to a competition. If you are travelling to the U.S., for example, it would allow you to take the firearm to the port of entry, and of course then you'd have to have a separate authorization from the United States government.

Public Safety committee  My understanding is that they would require an authorization as part of their licence to transport it to the next province and would have to get in contact with the chief firearms officer from that province to acquire the right to then travel with their firearm from New Brunswick to the U.S. border.

Public Safety committee  Mr. Chairman, I don't have a response at this time.

Public Safety committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Whether under the current authorization to transport regime or the one proposed in Bill C-42, it would be possible to obtain an authorization to travel that length of trip, either now separately or as part of your licence requirements. There is a requirement in legislation that you have to take the most direct route, and there are transportation requirements and storage requirements that apply, and the minister alluded to them earlier in terms of carrying the firearm.

Public Safety committee  I am to going to go back to a point Mr. Murdock made earlier. The information that must be shared with the RCMP must be shared before firearms are imported.

Public Safety committee  I apologize; you are correct. This situation is completely different. We were talking about imports by business earlier. During peak periods the transport advantages will be related to the permits. These will not be two different documents, and it will all be very clear and visible.

Public Safety committee  There are—

Public Safety committee  Thank you. Mr. Chairman, the curriculum is developed by the RCMP, working closely with provinces and territories and hunter educators. It's a very rigorous course. It's a standard curriculum across the country that can be tailored depending on regional requirements, and it's delivered in each region, province or territory, by instructors who are certified by the chief firearms officer in each of those provinces and territories.

Public Safety committee  It's up to $300 for the basic course. If you are applying to acquire a restricted licence, you also need to take the restricted course. In total for those two courses, it can be up to $300. It generally varies from $80 to $120 per province or territory.

Public Safety committee  This morning the minister briefly spoke about the consultation process and the round tables he took part in. He said that he had participated in round tables with law enforcement organization representatives, representatives of aboriginal communities and other concerned Canadian citizens.

Public Safety committee  Unfortunately I do not have that information in hand. So I cannot tell you how people were chosen.

Public Safety committee  Bill C-42 does not contain any provision to limit the power of chief firearms officers. The bill simply entitles the Government of Canada to limit those powers through regulation, if need be. That is all. The government is giving itself the power to ensure that the national program will continue to be a national program.

Public Safety committee  Yes, because there would be a regulation. A request would have to be prepared for the government.

Public Safety committee  As I already mentioned, there is nothing in the bill in that regard. This is simply a power the government is giving itself to ensure that there will be a certain uniformity, if it needs that power. The federal government recognizes that for the firearms officers there are variations among the regions, and that is part of the program.