Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Earlier Mr. MacGregor raised an issue that I'd also like to discuss with you, Minister.
On May 16 of this year, several women's groups sent you a letter expressing their concern about the “red flag” measure in Bill C‑21. They feel the measure is a real problem and even said it was counterproductive to allow victims to appear on their own in court to request that an attacker's gun be seized, for example. They say that could even increase the risk to victims. I saw that the bill provides ways to ensure the victim's anonymity, but, as you can understand, victims don't necessarily have all the means they need to do that in an intimate partner or domestic violence context.
That letter was sent to you on May 16, and the bill was introduced around May 30, if my memory serves me. In short, it was introduced a few days later. I understand that it must already have been drafted at that time and that you didn't have time to make any changes. However, the position of those women's groups hasn't changed. They still think it's a bad measure and propose instead that the measures already available be used and that the community be granted more powers over education, for example.
Now that you know all that, would you be prepared to amend the bill given the fears of the individuals directly concerned on the ground?