Public Safety Committee on Nov. 24th, 2011

Evidence of meeting #14 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was firearm.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-19, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Étienne Blais Associate Professor, School of Criminology, University of Montreal, As an Individual

Gary Mauser Professor Emeritus, Institute for Canadian Urban Research Studies, Simon Fraser University, As an Individual

Greg Illerbrun Firearms Chairman, Past-President, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation

Nathalie Provost Students and Graduates of Polytechnique for Gun Control

Heidi Rathjen Spokesperson, Students and Graduates of Polytechnique for Gun Control

Caillin Langmann Emergency Medicine Resident, Fellowship Program of the Royal College of Physicians Canada, Division of Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, As an Individual

Duane Rutledge Sergeant, K-9 Unit, New Glasgow Police Service, As an Individual

Bruno Marchand Director General, Association québécoise de prévention du suicide

Eve-Marie Lacasse Main Coordinator, Fédération des femmes du Québec

Manon Monastesse Managing Director, Fédération de ressources d'hébergement pour femmes violentées et en difficulté du Québec, Fédération des femmes du Québec

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC

Advocates of the abolition of the Long-gun Registry contend that your position is purely based on emotion. The opinions of either emergency-room doctors working to prevent suicide or of those running womens’ shelters are not science based and, therefore, worthless. You realize that this is how you are viewed. I wonder whether you could comment on that.

12:55 p.m.

Managing Director, Fédération de ressources d'hébergement pour femmes violentées et en difficulté du Québec, Fédération des femmes du Québec

Manon Monastesse

Firstly, I find this type of statement somewhat inappropriate because it challenges the word of those most intimately affected, i.e, the victims themselves. We see tangible examples of how the registry saves lives everyday. Indeed, women come to our facilities as a preventive measure. They are only able to do that because firearms have been seized.

Secondly, as I said earlier, Quebec is the only province that has developed a policy on domestic violence. One of the guiding principles is to ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence. Three action plans have been implemented. They contain specific measures for law enforcement and the family law system. The Government built these provisions, which require the police to confiscate firearms, into the Manual of Police Practices. Emotion is no longer a factor. It is now official Government policy.

The evidence is tangible. The various associations of police chiefs are advocating the retention of the long-gun registry. The Quebec government is even prepared to recover the data. Consequently, there is now commitment at the political and practical level. Emotion does not come into it.

1 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Randall Garrison

Thank you.

Unfortunately, our time has expired.

Thank you to all the witnesses who have appeared today.

Thank you to the members for their cooperation in my first session in the chair.

The meeting is adjourned.