Evidence of meeting #52 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 firearms.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Rachel Mainville-Dale  Acting Director General, Firearms Policy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Paula Clarke  Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
Murray Smith  Technical Specialist, Canadian Firearms Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Rob Daly  Director, Strategic Policy, Canadian Firearms Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Phaedra Glushek  Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC

Who uses the Benelli M3 tactical shotgun? Who would use the Benelli M3?

5:25 p.m.

Technical Specialist, Canadian Firearms Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Murray Smith

Well, in Canada, the average person could not own it because it's prohibited. If it were present in Canada, it would be used by exempt agencies, such as police, military and so on.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC

Just to clarify, there has been no attempt by any government, Liberal or Conservative, to unban that gun. Is that correct?

5:25 p.m.

Technical Specialist, Canadian Firearms Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Murray Smith

I can't speak about the history of parliamentary initiatives. I don't know whether there's been any attempt or not.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC

However—to confirm for me—it's been sitting on the list since the 1990s. There have been changes in government, and it still remains. Is that correct?

5:25 p.m.

Technical Specialist, Canadian Firearms Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Murray Smith

Yes, the Benelli M1 and M3 order, seen in clause 7 of proposed schedule 1, has been in effect continuously since 1992 and remains in effect today.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC

For further clarity, there continue to be a number of Benelli weapons on this list, but they are specifically exempted from the prohibition. Is that correct?

5:25 p.m.

Technical Specialist, Canadian Firearms Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Murray Smith

That's correct.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC

Can you tell us why?

5:25 p.m.

Technical Specialist, Canadian Firearms Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Murray Smith

That's a choice made by the Governor in Council in the case of regulations, and it's a choice made by the framers of proposed schedule 1 in the matter that's currently before this committee. That's a government decision as to how to proceed on what firearms should be restricted, prohibited or non-restricted.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I still have a number of questions I'd like to go through, but I'm cognizant of time. How would you like to proceed?

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

We have reached the end of our allotted period. I propose that we adjourn this matter until our next meeting, when we will continue where we left off.

We are adjourned.