Thank you, Mr. Carr, and thank you to all of you for doing this important work.
My name is Mitch Bourbonniere. I'm coming to you from Winnipeg. I am a worker for a gang diversion or gang exit program called Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatawin, or OPK Manitoba. I have been doing this work for 35 years. I'm also honoured to be on the call with my colleague Kevin from Bear Clan.
From our standpoint, there has been an increase in gun violence in Winnipeg. The participants I work with describe having used long guns and altered long guns as well as homemade guns, replica handguns and handguns, but by far the most prevalent are long guns that have been used either in their current form or in an altered state.
Guns are needed to carry out the drug trade. They are needed for protection. They are needed for intimidation, failure of payment, hostile takeovers, retribution, payback and retaliation in the drug trade. Anyone in Winnipeg can purchase a firearm illegally, much the same way as you would be purchasing illegal drugs. My understanding is that guns are manufactured mostly in the United States and smuggled through our two provincial borders and the American border.
My strong opinion is to put money and resources into law enforcement to concentrate on smugglers and the gun trade, and also to pour more money and resources into groups like the Bear Clan and OPK Manitoba, which are doing the work of helping people exit that gang life.
Those are my comments for today.
Thank you.