Public Safety Committee on April 25th, 2023

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I wonder if someone could go through how the red flag provision in the bill, as it's currently written, would work. We know that the doctors are very supportive of the amendment, but as has already been discussed, women's organizations are not.

Let's say I'm in a situation in which my partner is a police officer. I'm worried about going to the police because they may not want to respond or because, just in my own mind, I feel that that's not an avenue to go down. What is in this bill, and how will it work?

[Talal Dakalbab]

If you'll allow me, I'll start, and then my colleague , Mr. Taylor, may want to add something.

What is proposed in the bill is that anybody—and let's say the doctor, in your example—will request the removal, through the red flag, of these firearms from the individual. They go to the court....

I'll just emphasize as well that the government announced that there will be a program put in place with some financial support for organizations to be able to access the program once there is royal assent. Funding will be put in place to allow NGOs to be able to support victims or to support them in the court process. Then—

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Can I just stop you for a second?

[Talal Dakalbab]

Yes.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

A women's organization, like Halton Women's Place in my riding, would be able to access financial support to guide a woman through that process. Is that what you're saying?

[Talal Dakalbab]

There was an announcement that there will be funding for this program. The program details have not been finalized, because we need to get royal assent first. Then we'll work through our Treasury Board colleagues to establish the terms and conditions.

However, yes, you are correct. The intent of the program is to provide NGOs with support to be able to help victims. We understand that sometimes it's harder for victims in crisis mode to start the process of going to the court and the police, and there are all these issues.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I only have 30 seconds left.

That was helpful. I'm able to go to Halton Women's Place, and they're able to go to court for me.

The concern that I've heard from women's organizations is that if you put this in place, the police are going to stop responding.

I guess this is directed to the RCMP. That is the concern we've heard: that the police are going to say that the person has the opportunity to go to court. How can we ensure that this does not happen?

[D/Commr Bryan Larkin]

The obligation and the fiduciary duty of policing would, once again, still remain within the Criminal Code and in the process. We recognize those concerns. We've heard them loud and clear. Hence, it's an opportunity to enhance national education and training of frontline police officers.

In short, the fiduciary duty of a police officer would be to actually take action, not to suggest the alternative method. The alternative method is a stopgap for somebody who may have a concern about whether police will take action or not, or provide that opportunity, and the person just doesn't feel comfortable. It would not actually remove the fiduciary duty of law enforcement in that case.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Ms. Damoff.

Thank you to all of our officials today. I know we had a long day. You've given us some excellent information. I appreciate your service.

I'll just mention to the committee that there is the subcommittee on Friday. The point of that is we want to get squared away in an abundance of ambition for what happens after Bill C-21.

Thank you all.

We are now adjourned.