Evidence of meeting #66 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was licence.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
Thank you very much. I appreciate that clarification as well.
I go back to my original point that there was no one named in this from the statement made by our witnesses here today. We can all respond accordingly or we can carry on wherever we wish to go. I just want to make sure that definition of a personal statement was not in there.
Certainly, sir, Mr. Garrison, you have every opportunity to respond accordingly if you do feel that it somehow was intended.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
All I'm saying here is that I am trusting that the witnesses have done this based on their own research and not through material provided to them by another party.
I'm also very disappointed with the attack on the expertise of the RCMP, which we are continually getting from the government and from witnesses who appear here. There's a tendency to categorize legitimate differences of opinion as ignorance. I think that's quite regrettable when it comes to people who serve in the RCMP.
I want to ask a question of both witnesses. Do you yourself own a gun?
Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Yes, I own six firearms.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
How often have you filled out paperwork in the last year with regard to the guns that you own?
Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Me, not at all, because all of mine are non-restricted. I own no restricted or prohibited firearms.
Executive Director, Canadian Shooting Sports Association
Yes, I've filled some out a number of times.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Would you estimate the number of times you had to fill out...?
Executive Director, Canadian Shooting Sports Association
Probably a half dozen now this year.
Executive Director, Canadian Shooting Sports Association
There are multiple purposes. When a restricted or prohibited firearm is purchased or transferred in any way, there's a bunch of paperwork that has to be filled out with that. Then it goes through a number of government departments and then you have to get an authorization to transport, to move that from where you purchased it to back—
Conservative
Garry Breitkreuz Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, these are personal questions and I do not see how they relate to the bill that we're studying, Bill C-42.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
We are dealing with firearms. Of course, the question is related to firearms. It is regrettable that it goes to a personal request. If Mr. Garrison could find a way to bring that around to the bill, with regard to the affiliation or association with firearms and the responsibility we have, the chair would be fine with that.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This intervention raises a point of order here on how many Conservatives we have participating today in the committee.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
I do believe we have the number that is allowed in the committee. There are others who are here, I do believe, as observers. I can certainly check with the clerk here.
For your information, Mr. Breitkreuz is duly substituting for Ms. Ablonczy. Mr. Hayes is here and has no position, but is here as an observer at this point.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Thank you very much.
Back to my point, which is directly related to this bill. Mr. Bernardo, once you've received an authorization to transport have you had to do any paperwork since then on an authorization to transport?
Executive Director, Canadian Shooting Sports Association
On the authorization specifically, no. Once you have it, you can bring the firearm back. Then there are other authorizations that have to be filled out by your gun club. Because of this, virtually every firearms club in the country has a club secretary who does nothing all year long but wheel through bales of paperwork, applying for authorizations to transport on behalf of the members of the club.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
The reason I ask the question is that in discussions I've had with other gun owners, in terms of authorizations to transport and the reference to needless paperwork, there is in fact very little paperwork involved in that.
When people are transporting their weapons, they're required to have their authorization to transport with them.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
I guess I would see this in quite a different way from how you do. I do know quite a few gun owners. If you're transporting a weapon, and you have the authorization to transport, and you're stopped by the police for any reason, it prevents you from being hassled because you have the authorization to transport.
Executive Director, Canadian Shooting Sports Association
First of all, under the act, the police are not empowered to ask for your authorization to transport. In fact, they don't even know you have it. In fact, they don't even have the power to ask you if you have firearms in the vehicle.
This question you're dealing with is very much rhetorical. The bottom line to this is that if you don't have the piece of paper, you are in violation of the terms and conditions of your authorization to transport. That is a mandatory minimum of three years in jail, a mandatory minimum for not having a piece of paper that you do own.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Well, of course, I don't support any of the mandatory minimums. That's something the other side likes.
I have to say the point remains that your authorization to transport is what prevents you from being subject to any of those enforcement activities and penalties.