Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Speaking to Madame Michaud's subamendment, I think the change in respect of the time with the minister from four hours to one hour is important. This is about hearing from Canadians. I know the minister would love to come and spend four, 16 or 32 hours with us, as he is wont to do, but this is about hearing from Canadians.
As Ms. Damoff said, we have to do this in a way that gives comfort to hunters, indigenous communities, sport shooters and the airsoft community, but also to those who have been victims of gun violence. It's to make sure that we come to this in a way that gives everyone some degree of satisfaction not only that they have been heard, but also that the process that was followed was a good one.
Mr. MacGregor and I have had many conversations about this. Process is important and doing things the right way to make sure we can solve the problem that we are trying to solve in a thoughtful, considered manner is what Canadians deserve. My hope is that, through the work that Madame Michaud has proposed in the subamendment, we will move a long way down that road.
As we've said, there are provisions we know we can all agree on. It's important for us to find the time and space to do that. We're not going to agree on everything and that's okay. Nobody expects us to agree. If we all agreed, there would not be a government and an opposition. It is important to make sure that we hear those points of view from the folks we disagree with on both sides of this conversation.
I said earlier that we were committed to doing this properly, getting this right and doing it in a way that respects people's rights. I remain committed to that. I know all of us in this room are committed to that. My hope is that, through these conversations, we bring forward witnesses that will share thoughtful and meaningful perspectives and we try to make this process as non-partisan as possible.
What we are trying to do is consequential to the lives of Canadians in a variety of ways. At the end of the day, it is about keeping our streets and communities safer and about making sure that we don't create hardships for people.
I want to make sure that we do this right. I want to make sure that we as a team—all of us—do this in a way so that, whatever the outcome at the end, we can all say the process was a good one and the conversations were meaningful and fruitful. Whatever side of this debate people are on, they should feel that their voices were heard and well represented in these conversations.
If we can do that, I think we will end up with good legislation that may not fully satisfy everyone but satisfies the expectation that Canadians should have of us of being able to deliver good-quality public policy that may not always be perfect, but that is very strong and very good.
Thank you.