Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm inclined to agree with Ms. Michaud on this matter. I agree that all of these amendments are important subjects to study, but I believe each and every one of them could be the subject of its entire own study. Given the limited time that we're giving ourselves to study this very important issue of the rise of crime and the illegal firearms trafficking over borders, I think it would water down this committee's ability to target in and focus on that specific issue if we were to expand its scope with these important but additional very weighty issues.
I would encourage the members of this committee who want to study this to propose a separate study in and of itself, because it would be important. I also believe that in the motion in and of itself, when we're talking about subsection (i)—“all the ways that firearms are illegally diverted”—I believe domestic diversion would be included, and that already would be covered by the existing motion. There's nothing to stop witnesses from being asked about it or to provide evidence to talk about domestic diversion. I think that's something that absolutely would be considered on topic for this committee to discuss and to include in our report.
Then on subsection (iv), particularly “the involvement of gangs in firearms”, absolutely we should be reviewing programs that address the causes of youth gang involvement and recruitment and retention, as well as diversion. I think that would already be covered in the scope of the existing study without the amendment.
I will close by saying that I'm in support of the concerns by Ms. Michaud and that we should keep this committee study targeted on the spirit of the motion that was passed by unanimous consent in the House.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.