Evidence of meeting #49 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:35 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
That was from the May 1, 2020, OIC. They're listed also by make and model and by description.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
That's the 20-millimetre bore diameter descriptor.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Cannons obviously would have a much greater bore diameter than 20 millimetres.
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
Yes. There would also be—
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
You know, we have some artillery groups and artillery enthusiasts who do great work at commemorative events in this country. They're concerned that under this legislation, their World War I, World War II, or even earlier artillery pieces that are used for re-enactments or celebrations would be covered under this legislation.
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
[Technical difficulty—Editor] 20 millimetres, yes. It's as stated. I can't speak to a specific firearm or a specific cannon, but the law does say that anything with a bore diameter of 20 millimetres or greater would be prohibited.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
I just don't think it was the intention of the government. I don't think real gangsters are roaming the streets with World War II cannons. I think we could all agree on that. It probably wasn't the intention of the government to include these historical pieces under legislation. It seems like that's an unintended consequence.
Based on what you've said, that is a consequence of this.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Okay. That's very concerning for historical re-enactors.
There's another concern that I have. Can you tell us how many of these newly prohibited firearms—that would be the firearms that were not included in the May 2020 OIC but the new firearms that have been added in this amendment—are currently classified as unrestricted firearms?
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
We don't have that data, because in 2012 the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act—
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Oh, I'm not asking about how many are in circulation. I'm asking how many classes of those firearms are classified such that you would be able to reference the firearms table and look at, for example, the SKS, which I think is a non-restricted rifle in this country.
I was just wondering if you could tell us how many of the types of firearms that have been listed in this amendment are unrestricted and restricted.
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
I don't have that information with me. We can undertake to provide the clerk with that information.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
I'm sorry. I actually do have that information.
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
About 40% are non-restricted.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
I was trying to do the math on this, but I was very busy reading all this. Not counting the May 2020 OIC firearms and the newly added firearms on top of that from this amendment, how many firearms are we talking about, approximately, that have been added through this amendment?
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
In terms of those that have been added, I think it's approximately between 360 and 400 additional makes and models.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
It's 360 to 400. Then by your 40% amount, you're talking about between 144 and 200 or so unrestricted firearms.
5:40 p.m.
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
I'm just going to turn to my colleagues to confirm....
Our colleagues at the Canadian firearms program have undertaken to get back to you with more precise information.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Thank you.
I wrote all these questions for you, and I'm drawing a bit of a blank on the next line of questioning I had.
I might pass it on to one of my colleagues now, but I do have some additional questions that I'll have at a later time.
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Lloyd. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something.
5:40 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!