Evidence of meeting #19 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was firearms.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Professor Emeritus, As an Individual
You can see that I'm a lot younger there.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Yes, but where? Was it at home? It looks like it was at home, not at a firing range or at a shooting school. Am I right? It is at your house.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Excellent. And what were you shooting at? What were you having fun shooting at? Who were you putting on this show for?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Ms. Mourani, you have to relate this to the long-gun registry.
Bloc
Professor Emeritus, As an Individual
You will notice, first of all, that I'm not firing. Secondly, the finger is not in the trigger guard. Thirdly, the photographer asked me to pose like this and I resisted, but obviously I should have resisted harder.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
You did put up a struggle, my dear sir. But, you are the expert advisor as far as firearms are concerned. I must admit to you that I am scared.
I will give the floor to my colleague.
Bloc
Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I will quote a few organizations of professionals, experts and scientists, who are all against the bill to repeal the firearms registry. They represent doctors, nurses, suicide prevention experts, women's groups and organizations—I will come back to the case of women in particular—union organizations and social justice organizations, organizations representing human rights activists and women, police services organizations and associations from across the country, also police chiefs, police unions, including the Fraternité des policiers et policières de Montréal, the police fraternity of Montreal, and that of Quebec City, who consulted their members on this issue. Everyone is unanimous in stating that this is an important tool.
Of course, my first question is for Mr. Bentley. You talked about a security tool, but this tool is part of a whole. I would like you to talk about this a little more, and then I would like to come back to the issue of women.
Attorney General of Ontario, Government of Ontario
It is a tool, but it is part of a whole. Obviously we need front line police officers, such as Mr. Rutledge and his colleagues, and we need them to have in their possession information, information to assist when they're trying to prevent crime, information to assist when they're answering a call, information to assist when they're responding to the call of a crime, responding to an urgent situation.
The gun registry is a tool. It's a piece of information. Is it absolute? Can it guarantee anything? Well, nothing in crime prevention and enforcement can absolutely guarantee anything. It's an important tool, containing important information.
Bloc
Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
You say it is an important tool. Sergeant Duane Rutledge, who is here, said he consulted the registry twice. I do not think he is in any position to assess the value of the firearms registry, as was reflected in his presentation.
I would like to come back to the issue of violence against women and spousal violence, among other things. It has been said that the firearms registry is an important tool to fight violence against women. Ms. Cukier, you mentioned some statistics; Ms. Byers and Ms. Ducharme, you also talked about violence against women. I would like to hear you say a little more about this issue.
Conservative
Bloc
Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
And I don't want to hear the word “cost” , because I don't think you can attach a monetary value to this.
Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress
In terms of the question of violence against women, the trade union movement has been actively involved in the struggle against violence against women. You will see that not just on December 6 but in terms of the work that we do, in terms of even our initial presentation—
Conservative
Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress
Well, wait a minute. So violence against women gets 20 seconds?
Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress
You have to make sure that you talk—
Bloc
Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Chairman, a little earlier, you gave Ms. Glover two extra minutes. My witness could talk about violence against women for another minute. It's an important subject.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
You are taking up time. I have recorded the time. I have witnesses up here. What you're saying is not correct.
Liberal
