Public Safety Committee on Oct. 27th, 2022

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Thank you for that.

I think sustainability for these organizations is important.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. Van Bynen.

Ms. Michaud, you have the floor for two and a half minute.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Gentlemen, I would like to pick up where we left off a little while ago, when we were talking about the rather sensitive issue of intervening in first nations communities.

I have suggested many times to the Minister of Public Security setting up a type of joint tactical squad made up of the police forces that you mentioned earlier, i.e., the Sûreté du Québec, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Akwesasne Police, as well as the New York Police, if such a squad doesn't already exist. As we know, the issue of first nations territories is a very complex one, which means that we have to bring multiple stakeholders together, including border services officers.

This squad could be set up in way similar to Quebec's CENTAURE strategy. The Government of Quebec poured funds into this strategy and has made other investments that seem to be more practical in Quebeckers' minds. I get the impression that it seems a lot more practical when someone tells me, for example, that they are purchasing a boat so that police officers can patrol the water ways, because firearms can be brought in by crossing the river, or that they are buying a snowmobile, because firearms trafficking goes on even in the winter.

However, we have to remind ourselves that border control falls under federal jurisdiction. So shouldn't it rather be the job of the federal government to invest the funds and create a joint tactical squad that would allow all stakeholders to communicate? I think that what Quebec has done is very good, but isn't that the type of action that the federal government has to take? Please tell me what you think.

[André Gélinas]

The border is obviously under federal jurisdiction, as well as anything that concerns first nations.

I heard someone say that there is no proof that the rule of law doesn't apply on reserves. To me, that is insulting the intelligence of police officers. I would really love to be able to remember a single firearms seizure operation on a reserve, but nothing comes to mind.

You are right to say that the solution requires joint and multi-stakeholder groups. In order for that to be socially acceptable, we have to bring in first nations police, along with federal, municipal and provincial police forces. We are lacking manpower, but we could be stronger together and everyone could bring their expertise to bear on the problem.

[Stéphane Wall]

Please allow me to complete that answer.

Quebec did indeed set up a good strategy. We have a boat, a snowmobile and six extra first nations police officers on the Akwesasne reserve. It is not enough, though, given that the body of water is huge and that the first nation traffickers own high-speed boats. When the police boat leaves one shore, the gunrunners speed toward the other shore with their load. I am talking about firearms, but there are other goods being handled by first nations traffickers, organized crime syndicates and street gangs, such as drugs. These people work together. The primary victims of crimes committed by the first nations traffickers, who represent a minority within their community, are first nations people who live on the reserve. We have to think of these victims when we are drawing up laws and joint strategies that the various police forces will enforce.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Ms. Michaud.

We'll now go to Mr. MacGregor for the final questions.

You have two and a half minutes.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Monsieur Gélinas, I'd like to turn to you.

I read a brief from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, and they noted that Canada has one of the highest rates of suicide by firearms in the developed world. Some 75% of Canada's firearms deaths are in fact by suicide. That completely eclipses deaths by homicide. Of course, they note too that guns are a particularly lethal method. They have a lethality rate of over 90%, so nine out of 10 suicide attempts via firearm are successful.

This goes into the theme of the red flag law. The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians has consistently called for a point of care mechanism to allow emergency physicians to directly report to police authorities any individual with a medical condition that substantially increases the risk of inappropriate firearms use and the potential for firearm injury and death.

In your experience, what is the relationship like between the police and medical personnel currently? What are your thoughts on what they are asking for? In what ways do our laws need to be bolstered so that physicians can more effectively communicate to police that someone might be at risk of using a firearm, either against themselves or against another person?

[André Gélinas]

The question is relevant. I myself have a friend who is a doctor and he had to make that kind of call and it was extremely difficult. I would suggest a direct line for health care professionals. It would allow them to communicate directly with the relevant authorities so that they may decide if an intervention is necessary and, if that is indeed the case, so that it can be planned.

My friend had to talk to approximately 10 people before a patrol officer called him back, and he didn't really understand the situation. He was ready to go and meet the person, but that would have put the doctor in danger. Obviously, we have to protect the person that makes the call. The Collège des médecins du Québec has stated that doctors are no longer bound by patient confidentiality when there is reason to believe that firearms present a potential danger.

I think that there should be a separate communication channel so that doctors can speak directly with the relevant authorities, without having to wait and be transferred from one person to the other. They have to be able to immediately speak with a person who is knowledgeable about gun licences as well as the various ways of intervening.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. MacGregor.

Thank you to all the witnesses for sharing your time and expertise with us today and for helping us in our study. That concludes our meeting. Thank you all for your time and attention as well.

With that, we are adjourned.