Evidence of meeting #116 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd 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.
President, Director, Gatineau Police Service, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Exactly. There are major challenges in that area.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Thank you very much.
Dr. Drummond, I want to thank you very much for bringing us back to what's important here, and that is saving lives. Do you think Bill C-71 will save lives?
Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians
Yes. I would point out, however, that I think we need to take this one step further. It's good to do background checks, but it's more important to allow physicians to identify those at risk and, temporarily at least, remove something that would change the lethality of any potential suicide attempt. That is not in this legislation. I don't understand the politics of legislation, but if we were going to call for an amendment, we would strongly suggest that a component would be mandatory reporting.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Thank you, Dr. Drummond.
We've also heard testimony around intimate partner violence and the fact that firearms are used. In Ontario, the coroner's review showed that 26% of intimate partners who were killed were killed with firearms. You have mentioned that a couple of times as well.
I just want to thank you for getting that on the record. Sometimes it gets lost in the hyperbole that tends to follow this type of legislation.
I am going to turn it over to my colleague.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
This is just a point of clarification, Mr. Chair.
In case there was confusion on my question about the retention of personal information, my point was that nothing in Bill C-71 creates a centralized database of personal information that would be held by government.
In case there was a question about that, that's what I meant to say. I'm sorry if there was confusion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you.
I was going to turn to you, Mr. Miller, for the last couple of minutes.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Well, then, I can address that. I thank you for that, Mr. Chair.
Just on that note, it's not held by government—Mr. Fragiskatos is correct—but government has access to it with a process.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
With a warrant; with respect, government can access it with a warrant.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Yes, exactly.
Anyway, I just want to read something here that's on the government website. We all know what Mr. Goodale and everybody is saying, that it's not a registry. This states:
The information that must be retained is also limited to basic information about a transaction: the reference number issued by the Registrar; the day on which the reference number was issued; the transferee's licence number; and the firearm's make, model, type and serial number.
In my opinion, and in the opinion of a lot of other people, this points to a registry, because that's what a registrar looks after.
Mr. Friedman and Mr. Mauser, regardless of Mr. Fragiskatos, who's drunk the ministerial Kool-Aid, would this point to a registry, in your opinion?
Mr. Friedman.
Criminal Defence Counsel, Criminal Lawyers' Association
Well, I won't need a minute.
If it walks like a registry, talks like a registry, and even seems to quack like a registry, it's a registry.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
You are, yes. Thank you.
Before I thank the witnesses on behalf of the committee, I want to note that Carole Savard, who has been an interpreter here for 35 years, is retiring at the end of this week. This is her last time with us.
Now, apparently she has already left, in part because we went on. At any rate, on behalf of the committee, and I'm certain on behalf of all parliamentarians, I want to thank her for her 35 years of faithful service.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
In addition, on behalf of the committee, I want to thank each of the witnesses. This has certainly been a lively panel.
With that, we will adjourn until next Thursday.
