Evidence of meeting #11 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was gun.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Thank you very much, Minister. I'll give you 10 seconds to close this off.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
We will work with those individuals who were previously in lawful possession of banned and prohibited firearms to make sure that we can transition to the new regime that has been in place since March 2020.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Thank you, Minister.
Mr. Zuberi, you have the last slot of three minutes. Take the floor, please, whenever you're ready.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you.
I want to turn the floor back again to the minister around upstream and downstream programs. I know you were elaborating on them. I'd like to hear if you have more to say. As Madame Michaud said, we don't have you every day at committee, so I just want to give you that space and time, please.
Just to preface this a little bit, we did hear, for example, from Keep6ix, which helps those who lived in the gang lifestyle to get out of gangs. Those types of programs are so meaningful, and I personally feel that they help make our country safer and soften the edges of the justice system and policing, which we must do. I just want to hear your thoughts on that.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
You are absolutely right, Mr. Zuberi, and I think it is those kinds of organizations that have come before this committee that give you a real-life illustration of how we can take federal investments and translate them into safer communities.
I think about the various investments that we have made to reduce gun and gang violence, the building safer communities fund, which I am extremely committed to seeing have a positive impact in our communities and also then, once that funding is there, to get out of the way.
I think we in government have to really make way for young people across a wide array of communities because they are best positioned to offer some solutions around mentoring each other. I often hear within my own community that those who have had experience within gangs and who have rehabilitated are really well positioned to offer advice, consultation and support, as well as others who work within the community.
I think we have to create those spaces, and they're not just bricks and mortar and actual physical spaces. We've got to make sure that we are giving a seat at the table to the people who live within communities and who feel in a very visceral way the negative impact of gun violence on a daily basis, so that they can drive those solutions and take those leadership roles. That's how we're going to reduce gun crime, in my view, and my commitment is to work with you and all parliamentarians to ensure that it happens.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Colleagues, that was a very substantial and important conversation. I thank you all for it. I haven't been around parliamentary committees very long—at least not as a member and certainly not as a chair—but this to me is a wonderful example of how Parliament ought to be working. Thank you all very much for that.
Minister, you've been so generous with your time. The motion said we would spend three hours on the subject, which you gave. On behalf of all of us, thank you very much. I know how intense this time is for you.
Members of the committee, thanks for a job well done. I'll see you all Thursday.
This meeting is adjourned.