Public Safety Committee on May 11th, 2023

[Rachel Mainville-Dale]

Thank you for the question.

With regard to clause 47, this provision specifies that individuals who would not be eligible to acquire handguns under the proposed restrictions, i.e., non-exempted persons, would still be able to acquire any handguns that they purchased in the period between the tabling of the bill and its date of coming into force.

It is basically just a clarification. However, I will note that the government did bring into force regulations last fall, in October 2022, which brought into effect the restriction on handgun transfers.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

What is the relation between the regulation that was in place in October and this amendment?

[Rachel Mainville-Dale]

I'm not sure which one would apply first. Maybe I can lean on my colleagues from Justice for that.

[Sandro Giammaria]

With respect to clause 47, it's transitional with respect to what's in the Firearms Act. Basically, if you have initiated that process in advance of the coming-into-force date, that process should continue in the sense that the new provision that comes into force while that process is under way wouldn't apply.

I think what my colleague is referring to is that as of the institution of the regulatory handgun freeze, there won't be a lot of those cases.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

This is not going to retroactively punish anyone.

[Sandro Giammaria]

No.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Okay.

That can go on division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Very well.

(Clauses 47 and 48 agreed to on division)

(On clause 49)

For clause 49 we have the availability of the CNSC, if they would like to join us at the table. They have been waiting. These guys have been waiting for months.

If my notes are correct, from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission we have Pascale Bourassa, acting director general, directorate of security and safeguards; and Pierre-Daniel Bourgeau, counsel, legal services.

Shall clause 49 carry?

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

I would just ask the witnesses here, who have been watching this whole time, if there's anything they'd like to say about this clause and what the impact will be on their sector.

[Pascale Bourassa, Acting Director General, Directorate of Security and Safeguards, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission]

Thank you for giving the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission the opportunity to respond to your questions.

I'd like to make a general statement with respect to the proposed amendments to the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. This is to put in place better clarity on an already existing scheme that we have in place for the security of nuclear facilities across Canada.

Basically, it's bringing two changes. One is to give the commission the opportunity to designate peace officers for our nuclear security officers, and the second is making provisions to authorize our designated licensees to be able to purchase arms.

This is the gist, if you want, of the amendments that are being proposed.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Thank you.

Before I turn it over to my colleague and use up all the Conservative time, I worry that this amendment, which I think is positive.... I worry about where these members of yours are going to be able to purchase any firearms in this country after this bill passes. We'll see. Maybe there will be a specialty store just for nuclear safety personnel.

Thank you. I'll pass it on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Mr. Kurek, go ahead.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

To make a general comment, I find it really ironic and somewhat troubling, quite frankly, that we're having to seek carve-outs—in this case for a federally regulated space, and justifiably so—that would allow for firearms to be purchased. It's troubling that the government seems to be carving out these things.

Of course, I know that we in this place all appreciate very much the security personnel and peace officers who work diligently on our streets. I know of the tragedy that struck one of them earlier today.

There are a whole host of concerns. We're telling Canadians that they cannot use firearms or handguns, but we're anticipating and even carving out areas of society where we expect them to protect us. The irony is rich and, I think, very unfortunate. It speaks to some of the flawed logic and ideology that is driving this legislation. It certainly leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many of my constituents and, I would suggest, many across the country, including in many Liberal ridings as well. It's surprising, Mr. Chair.

I have a question for these folks.

Ironically, when I get an email from somebody in Toronto asking me to fight on their behalf because their MP won't return their emails or calls, man, it's quite a situation. It's because they're a sport shooter or a collector, or it's because they fall within this designated category of which the Liberals have said it's no longer acceptable to be able to practise their sport—whatever the case is. I think that's really very unfortunate.

Mr. Chair, I would ask the question in relation to the constitutional provisions that designate the responsibility for firearms to provinces.

I'm wondering whether our folks from the nuclear commission, and maybe our departmental officials as well, can comment as to where this overlap between provincial licensing and the carve-out for nuclear facilities and designated peace officers would be.

[Pascale Bourassa]

Nuclear installations are federally regulated. Hence, we were proposing amendments that will allow this federal approach to ensuring that the nuclear installations—high-security sites across Canada—have efficient and effective nuclear security programs in place. Because it's federally legislated, then we apply this federal approach.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you.

I would like to follow up, if I could, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

You have 34 seconds.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Okay. Thank you.

Are there peace officers, designated law enforcement personnel, on these federally regulated facilities currently? If so, what level of government are they certified under?

[Pascale Bourassa]

There are some nuclear security officers who have peace officer status in some provinces at the provincial level.

What we're trying to achieve here is to have a consistent, federal, uniform approach, so that all the installations across Canada will have peace officer status at the federal level.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Can you list the provinces where this would currently apply?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I'm sorry, but there's no more time.

We will go to Mr. Julian and then Madame Michaud.

Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As we talk about this clause, I just want to thank you and all members of the committee.

We've gone through almost all the amendments, with a half-dozen minor amendments to come, and an important one upholding the rights of indigenous people, which I'm sure will be accepted unanimously. That's been quite an endeavour over the last couple of days.

You've led us brilliantly, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the officials as well.

We got through all the volume. We had 178 pages when we started this yesterday. We got through everything. It's quite remarkable.

As we consider this, one of these last clauses, I want to thank everybody for working together really effectively. I think it is a good indication of how strong our democracy is when we work together.

Most of the amendments that were adopted were adopted with the support of all four parties. That shows real co-operation and engagement in making the bill better. The bill coming out of committee is much better than the bill that came in.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. Julian, and thanks on behalf of everyone you thanked.

Ms. Michaud, you have the floor.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

I hadn't asked to have the floor, Mr. Chair.

However, I will use my time to offer my own thanks to the members of the committee, and especially to the officials, who have been here for several days. I also want to thank all the technicians, the interpreters, the clerks, and the analysts, who have also been here for several consecutive hours. I am extremely grateful to them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you.

Ms. Damoff.

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

Mr. Julian started some thank yous, and I know, when we get to midnight, that the way we're doing this is going to change a bit. We won't get an opportunity to speak to the amendment in the bill that ensures that we're not derogating indigenous people's section 35 charter rights.

However, mostly I just want to say thank you to our colleagues, to the chair, to the clerks, to the legislative clerks and to the officials who have been so kind, so patient and so incredibly knowledgeable in guiding us through this. It's a long time that we've all been sitting here, and we are internally grateful for the dedication that you, as public servants, have to what you do for our country. Thank you for helping guide us through this bill.