Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, I raised this issue before you arrived. As you know, this Friday marks the sombre 35th anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre. You, your government and your predecessors promised victims and their families, including victims of acts committed with all other types of firearms, a ban on military‑style assault weapons. That said, this ban isn't complete. In 2020, I believe, Bill Blair put in place an order in council that banned 1,500 weapons. Then came Bill C‑21. However, the definition of “prohibited weapon” is ever‑changing and applies only to weapons designed after the passage of the bill. As a result, a few hundred models remain in circulation.
In terms of the buyback program promised for this fall, or at least its first phase, people are worried that individuals may resell their prohibited weapon to the government and use that money to buy a similar model still in circulation. This would render the gun control measure ineffective and, above all, a waste of taxpayer money.
Like a number of people, I expect you to unveil the first phase of the buyback program soon. Can we expect a complete ban on military‑style assault weapons before this buyback program takes effect?