Evidence of meeting #21 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 firearm.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Holland
Thank you.
Now we'll go to Madam Jennings for five minutes, starting the second round.
Liberal
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
Thank you, Chair.
I would like to share two minutes of my time with Mr....with Borys.
I'm not going to try to pronounce your last name.
I would like to begin by thanking all the witnesses for being here today. I particularly want to convey my greetings to Ms. Suzanne Laplante-Edward and Ms. De Sousa. For me, you are both heroines; you are models of excellence, determination, devotion and commitment to society, acting in the best interests of our young women and our youth in general. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done and continue to do as passionate advocates for the maintenance of our Firearms Registry in its entirety.
Ms. Cabrera, you were asked whether you have a picture showing you holding a firearm. You said that you do. I have one as well. It is posted on the wall of my office on Parliament Hill, and I am very proud of it. Although I know how to handle certain firearms, both long guns and handguns, I am a fervent advocate for the maintenance of the Canadian Firearms Registry in its entirety, and I will not abandon the fight.
Mr. Dupuis, I would like to thank you for being here. I have some questions for you. Because I probably only have about two minutes left, I will be brief. If you do not have time to answer, you can always forward your answers in writing through the Chair. Do you think the Conservative plan to abolish the Canadian Firearms Registry is consistent with the Conservatives' law and order agenda?
Also, they would like the provinces to build more prisons and for there to be more guns out there. That is the American style of justice, is it not? Has that model failed? How do you explain the fact that Conservatives from Quebec are voting against the Quebec consensus? In the final analysis, the Conservatives are endangering the lives of Canadians and Quebeckers to please the gun lobby. Is that not the only conclusion that can be drawn from their determination to abolish the Canadian Firearms Registry?
Minister of Public Safety, Government of Québec
How much time do I have left, Mr. Chairman?
Minister of Public Safety, Government of Québec
Mr. Comartin is telling me to say yes.
I just want to say that it is clear to me that the desire to abolish the Canadian Firearms Registry—which prevents crimes and attacks on innocent victims using long guns—does not jibe with the Conservative view, which supports what could be called—for the purposes of our discussion—a law and order agenda. There is a dichotomy between those two positions. That is about all I can say without getting myself in deeper.
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Bernardo, are you familiar with the website “canadiangunnutz.com”?
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
And do you make postings onto the website canadiangunnutz.com?
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I'd like to know if you made this posting: We have done significantly better than our brethren in Australia and Great Britain; no wonder Wayne LaPierre, executive vice-president of the NRA--that's the American lobby for long guns--told me that with legitimate administration, you Canadians are the best guerrilla fighters we've ever seen; he wasn't kidding.
Is that--
Executive Director, Canadian Shooting Sports Association
Now, that's coming as quite a high compliment.
Liberal
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
So do you feel like a guerrilla fighter, fighting for your freedom?
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thank you.
That actually corresponds with... Have you acted as a spokesperson for the NRA?
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Well, you're on an infomercial of the NRA's, and you're quoted as stating that if you view this problem as strictly a Canadian problem, you have your head in the sand; you've got to get behind your organizations that are defending your freedom; without the NRA, you'd be sunk.
Executive Director, Canadian Shooting Sports Association
I'm aware that this might be hard for you to understand, but I was acting as an advocate for Canadians.
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Yes, but this is an infomercial for the NRA.
Did you receive any sorts of gifts from the NRA?
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Finally, you supported the private member's bill, Bill C-301, that would have relaxed controls on prohibiting restrictive weapons--
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
--including semi-automatic tactical and some military assault weapons. Do you still support such a move?