Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First, I would like to thank you, Mr. Francoeur, for your testimony. It touched me deeply. This is why we have a deep respect not only for police officers, but also for police chiefs. As a former mayor, I know there is a difference between both positions, as they involve different functions.
Also, the evidence we have heard on Bill C-35—a bill that we support—has been generally supportive, but there has been a different view of how it will play out. The Criminal Lawyers' Association, and others, suggest that the effect of Bill C-35 is to basically codify what is happening on very serious crimes.
With serious recidivists, bail is hard to get. That all goes to our first discussions on justice issues; it's the discretion of a good magistrate or good judge. I think Bill C-35 is just that. With the reverse onus--which sometimes puts somebody's liberty at risk, so it's an important issue—I'm confident that a properly funded legal aid system will give the accused representation, and a properly appointed and instructed practising judge will make the right decision on the three grounds of bail or interim release. So I'm totally in favour of Bill C-35.
What gives me a little inquiétude is that some of the witness statements perhaps suggested that the reverse onus is a sure thing, that in every case the person is going to be out on a judicial interim release. I don't think we should lead the public to think that's the case. It shifts the likelihood that the person will be kept; it makes it more likely. I think we might all agree on that, rather than giving the public the idea that it's pretty much automatic that they're going to stay—It still depends on the discretion of the judge, and I have confidence in that.
We've had this discussion before, and we've been in Toronto to hear the police chief speak. I think the big thing that comes up—and Mr. Cannavino and Mr. Griffin are almost veterans, and they should get a badge of attendance here—is that it's really about guns. That's really where we should turn our focus. Many of you have talked about guns, but how are we going to get to the issue? There's the gun registry.
We have the current Minister of Justice saying in the Commons that he doesn't want to target duck hunters; he wants to target criminals. Well, I am a duck hunter and I have registered shotguns. I grew up interfacing with the outdoors and learning the responsible use of guns. I don't need the Minister of Justice to protect me. I don't think he has ever owned a gun. That kind of hyperbole bothers me.
As some of the witnesses have said, the issue really is whether you are going to use a gun if you have it. I think Mr. Wilson said that. There's legal use of guns. There are people who believe that handguns can be used for other things than shooting human beings.
I didn't grow up in that culture, but I think we have to have a cultural debate. I think there's a difference between rural and urban Canada. In some cases I think there may be a difference between western and other parts of Canada. Mr. Bagnell said that about the north, as well. I think it's a cultural thing.
Are there effective models for gun control, which if properly resourced—that means detection, prevention, education, etc.—could work?