Public Safety Committee on Dec. 1st, 2022

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I can ask it again, Mr. Smith.

Is the Remington model 742 Woodsmaster hunting rifle prohibited on this list?

[Murray Smith]

That particular rifle does not appear on either schedule 1 or schedule 2.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Okay, the next one—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Actually, Mr. Zimmer, when you say “this list”, I wonder whether you might specify, because the existing schedule is out there. There is the proposed list, which may or may not be introduced later with G-46.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

What I'm referring to is the legislation before us today, Bill C-21, and the amendments that are also before us. That's where my questions are coming from and sourced from.

I'll continue.

Is the Auto-Ordnance M1 carbine hunting rifle prohibited, according to this amendment?

[Murray Smith]

I believe it is on the list, but I would have to check to be entirely sure. It should be in the M1 carbine section.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I can assure you that it's on the list. I'm just asking you to confirm it.

[Paula Clarke, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice]

It would be helpful if the member of the committee could provide and pinpoint the location of the specific make and model he is asking about. It would facilitate our ability to answer the question if we had that information.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I appreciate your thoughts on how I should ask my questions, but I'm asking my questions the way I have organized them. I'm asking them of our firearms experts. Again, I'm looking for answers, as opposed to not knowing the answers. That's why I'm asking Mr. Smith and Mr. Daly my questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I think it's a fair point that if you know where it is on the list, you could help them to—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

It's a fair point, but it is in the amendment and it is in the legislation. I've researched this document extensively in the last week. Again, my assumption would have been that the experts would have and would know what firearms are on the list or aren't on the list.

[Phaedra Glushek]

To my colleague's point, I'd just like to add that there are numerous firearms on the list. There are about 400 pages, from what I understand, so to point it out—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Mr. Smith—

[Phaedra Glushek]

—absolutely would be very helpful for us so that we could facilitate the answers for you today.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I'm sorry. My question is to Mr. Smith and Mr. Daly.

[Murray Smith]

The firearm you mentioned I believe is the Auto-Ordnance M1 carbine. That appears on the list of schedule 2 at paragraph 81(f).

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Okay. Yes. I knew that as well.

I'll move to my next question. Is the Browning rifle BAR Mark III hunting rifle on the list to be prohibited?

[Murray Smith]

That particular rifle is not on either list, schedule 1 or schedule 2.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Maybe I should ask it more clearly. As amendment G-46 lays out, would it be on that prohibited list if G-46 were to pass?

[Murray Smith]

What is or is not on the list is a matter of policy. I'm not in a position to address what the government should put on the list—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

You're not in a position to address what's on the list of G-46, the amendment that was put before us?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I would remind Mr. Zimmer that the motion is not moved yet. The list is provided for public information and for discussion, but we don't know if it's going to pass or how it might change, so just bear that in mind.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that.

I just know that you are appearing today to answer questions based on Bill C-21 and possible proposed amendments to Bill C-21. That's how I'm basing my questions and that's why you're here today: to answer those questions. It seems pretty clear: To have the knowledge of what's on that amendment would have been.... It's a public document. It's out there. That you would have a good knowledge of that document....

I will let you know that the Browning rifle BAR Mark III hunting rifle is on the list.

I'll ask you this question. Will the Browning rifle BAR Mark III safari hunting rifle be prohibited if this amendment passes?

[Murray Smith]

I don't recall seeing the BAR on the list. Perhaps you could point out where you're seeing it.

I would also point out that there are two kinds of BARs. There's the BAR sporting rifle made by Browning and there's the BAR machine gun from the World War I era. Perhaps there's some confusion there as well.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Well, maybe the confusion.... Maybe let's clarify. The amendment before us is also G-4. Are you familiar with amendment G-4?