Evidence of meeting #140 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 funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
—and to store it securely so that it doesn't end up in the hands of someone who might commit a violent crime with it—
5:25 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
—and to use it responsibly. For example, for handguns, that would easily involve target shooting at a range. When it comes time to dispose of it, they would do so according to the law and regulations to ensure that this firearm does not end up in the hands of someone it shouldn't. That's how I would define responsible firearm ownership.
5:25 p.m.
Lethbridge, CPC
I have no problem agreeing with you on that, Minister.
Only 9% of guns used in crimes were traced back to legal owners. However, Minister, you're under this instruction from the Prime Minister to basically seize all handguns from Canadians.
Now, here's the thing. If only 9% of those handguns belong to people who have properly registered, I'm just wondering how you're planning to get that other 89%. Will you just go knocking on every single Canadian door and search and seize in every single house across this country in order to get those handguns that are not registered? How do you plan on taking those handguns off the streets?
Minister, my point is this. The large majority of people in this country responsibly own their handguns and responsibly use their handguns. Only 9% of firearms that are used in a crime are traced back to someone who has a registered firearm. Minister, it is going to be relatively impossible to get those illegal firearms off the street by legislating them. Don't you agree?
5:25 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
First of all, let me disagree with some of the things you've said. I have not been tasked with seizing people's handguns. I was tasked with conducting an examination.
Ms. Harder, we're not afraid of examining the facts and listening to all points of view. The evidence and the—
5:25 p.m.
Lethbridge, CPC
You are when you host consultations that are by invite only.
5:25 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
—and so we're doing that.
5:25 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
Ms. Harder, I would also tell you that I appreciate that the data is incomplete. However, I can tell you about a complete sample of data, which is the data collected during my tenure as the chief of detectives and then the chief of police in Toronto. During that period of time, we traced the origins of all crime guns in that jurisdiction. During my tenure, 30% of the guns we seized that were crime guns used in a criminal offence came from domestic sources, and 70% were determined to have been smuggled across the border.
Now there is additional data—
5:30 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
I've spoken to chiefs of police in other jurisdictions—
5:30 p.m.
Lethbridge, CPC
I think you've proven my point. You're going after law-abiding gun owners, Minister—
5:30 p.m.
Lethbridge, CPC
You're going after law-abiding gun owners. Go after criminals.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Pierre Paul-Hus
Thank you, Minister.
I'd like to thank everyone for exercising such discipline during the meeting.
We will suspend briefly so the minister can take his leave, after which, we will have some votes on the supplementary estimates.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Pierre Paul-Hus
Pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), we have some votes on Supplementary Estimates (A), 2018-19.
Do I have the committee's unanimous consent to lump all the votes in the supplementary estimates together?
5:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Pierre Paul-Hus
CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY Vote 1a—Operating expenditures.......... $85,051,922 Vote 5a—Capital expenditures.......... $2,185,714
(Votes 1a and 5a agreed to on division)
OFFICE OF THE CORRECTIONAL INVESTIGATOR OF CANADA Vote 1a—Program expenditures.......... $99,196
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
SECURITY INTELLIGENCE REVIEW COMMITTEE Vote 1a—Program expenditures.......... $99,196
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Vote 1a—Program expenditures.......... $236,162
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
CIVILIAN REVIEW AND COMPLAINTS COMMISSION FOR THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE Vote 1a—Program expenditures.......... $99,196
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
PAROLE BOARD OF CANADA Vote 1a—Program expenditures.......... $99,196
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE Vote 1a—Operating expenditures.......... $70,086,955 Vote 5a—Capital expenditures.......... $23,130,497 Vote 10a—Grants and contributions.......... $19,500,000
(Votes 1a, 5a and 10a agreed to on division)
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Vote 1a—Operating expenditures.......... $7,370,883 Vote 5a—Grants and contributions.......... $28,312,659
(Votes 1a and 5a agreed to on division)
SECRETARIAT OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS Vote 1a—Program expenditures.......... $3,278,218
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE Vote 1a—Program expenditures.......... $13,893,055
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF CANADA Vote 1a—Operating expenditures.......... $2,339,766
(Vote 1a agreed to on division)
5:30 p.m.
Conservative