Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the minister and department officials. Thank you for your attendance.
It's my first opportunity to talk directly to you, Minister. Hopefully I'll get a number of questions in.
The first one I want to bring to your attention is the timing of your introduction to this particular bill. I remember that day very clearly, because, less than 24 hours removed from your presenting Bill C-5 in the House, we stood in solidarity as members of Parliament, and the entire House commemorated the École Polytechnique massacre from several years ago. We stood for the message that the government would stand strong against all forms of gun violence and to inform Canadians in very clear terms that we would take immediate steps to curb the ever-increasing tide of that criminal behaviour.
I think you'd agree with me, Minister, that the number one responsibility of a federal government is to keep its citizens safe. Do you agree with that?