Evidence of meeting #3 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 guns.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
—to affordable housing, access to health care and access to education, and creating safe spaces within our communities so that we are reducing gun and gang violence.
I agree with that sentiment. Thank you, Mr. MacGregor.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Thank you, Minister, for your testimony and for appearing for this study.
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
I believe the minister is obliged to leave the meeting now. Have I got that right?
Conservative
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Chair, I'm happy to stay for another two minutes. That's totally fine.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
It's that time of year. We should all be in a giving mood.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The National Police Federation, which represents 20,000 frontline police officers, issued a policy paper on firearms. Their position states that the Liberal order in council banning various firearms and the gun buyback program are “costly” and don't address “current and emerging...threats to public safety.” It is the position of nearly 20,000 frontline police officers that your policies do not address illegal firearms proliferation, gang crime and smuggling, and that, finally, your policies are diverting important personnel and resources from the immediate threat of criminals and illegal firearms.
Minister, do you disagree with the assessment of 20,000 frontline police officers?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Here's what I will tell you, Mr. Lloyd. The past president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police called Bill C-71, which strengthened background checks for prospective buyers, essential. The Conservative Party opposed it. You vowed to repeal it.
The current president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police supported our prohibition of military-style assault rifles, saying, “it ensures the safety of our members when they respond to calls for service.”
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Minister, that's not what 20,000 frontline police officers said.
What I would say, Minister, is that under your watch, it is easier for an illegal handgun to cross the border than it is for a fully vaccinated Canadian coming home from vacation.
Minister, my final question is this. You use the term “military-style assault weapon” on a regular basis. There is no legal definition. Can you define for this committee what a military-style assault weapon is?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Lloyd, this type of weapon was designed with one purpose in mind, and that is to kill people. It has no place in our communities, which is why we banned it. The Conservative Party has vowed to repeal that ban—
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Thank you both very much. We're out of time.
Minister, thank you very much for spending the last hour with us.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
That concludes this portion of the meeting.
Mr. Clerk, is it necessary to suspend? We're not adding any new witnesses. Can we just proceed, or do you want a few minutes to change the panel?
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Wassim Bouanani
Mr. Chair, we do need just a few minutes.