Evidence of meeting #59 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.
Bloc
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
I'm sorry.
Mr. Julian, please go ahead for two and a half minutes. You have the final word.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I didn't get to finish my question in the last round. I will therefore ask it again to Mr. Renaud and Ms. Vallée.
You said that your association has 125,000 members. What percentage of your members hold a firearms possession and acquisition licence?
President, Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs
I am not in a position to answer that.
Firearms possession and acquisition licences are managed by the federal government. Unfortunately, I do not have any data on these licences. However, most hunters who buy licences hold a firearms possession and acquisition licence, or the owner of the firearm must be nearby.
So, unfortunately, I don't have the exact figure.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
However, you would say that the vast majority of hunters have one, would you not?
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Okay.
I wanted to raise another issue that has been pointed out by police officers and other people in the community, namely the issue of ghost guns.
Right now, because of some of the loopholes in the legislation, people can buy gun parts and cartridges and even own them. Of course, they need a possession and acquisition licence, but ownership is not required. Therefore, people who have criminal tendencies can circumvent the existing laws at the moment.
Your organization is made up of responsible people. We can also see that you take your responsibilities seriously by offering awareness programs every year.
What do your members think and what do you think of this increasingly frequent situation where criminals use ghost guns without complying with the existing regulatory framework, by holding, for example, a firearms possession and acquisition licence?
President, Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs
Initially, we have to work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to issue permits if people have obtained firearms legally. However, if the firearms are illegal, that is a criminal matter. So we do not need an amended bill that harms hunters and sport shooters when the problem is one of crime. It is up to the police to act and enforce the laws in these cases.
NDP
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
There is no law dealing with that. Right now, you can buy or possess cartridges and buy firearm parts legally without a licence.
President, Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs
You can buy ammunition or firearms legally, according to the legal rules that already exist in Canada. If a firearm, assembled piece by piece, becomes an illegal firearm, the owner does not have the right to possess it. It is an illegal firearm, and hunters are not in possession of illegal firearms.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Julian.
I'm afraid we have to wrap up at this point.
I would like to thank our panel of witnesses. You've been very helpful. It's a very difficult subject, and we appreciate your time and expertise.
With that, the meeting is now adjourned. Thank you all.
