Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
I will also be putting a motion on notice today.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to attend a town hall hosted by the Penticton Shooting Sports Association. This facility has been in operation for 42 years and is essential, not only for recreational sport shooters but also for the RCMP and the B.C. sheriffs and cadets who depend on it for training.
Sadly, the Department of Agriculture has announced that the range's lease will be terminated at the end of this year. This divestment plan has been widely condemned by the community and the local RCMP. The local RCMP has been quoted as saying, “The closing of the PSSA would negatively impact our training in a myriad of ways; not only would [it] add significant expense for the RCMP members to travel to an alternative, distant facility, but many other facilities do not offer the same seclusion that allows for enhanced RCMP tactical training.”
I would like to table this notice of motion:
That, given that the Department of Agriculture has advised the Penticton Shooting Sports Association, or PSSA, that their lease is to be terminated at the end of 2025; the range has operated for 42 years and is essential not only for recreational shooters but also for the RCMP, the BC Sheriff Service and cadets who depend on it for training; the planned closure of the range would deprive the community of a safe area where residents can legally and responsibly use their firearms; and the proposed divestment of this land has been met with widespread condemnation from the community and the South Okanagan RCMP; the committee call on the government to rescind the divestment plan and this be reported to the House.
Getting into my questions, I'll start with Professor Huebert.
It has been widely reported that the government is reconsidering its position on the F-35 purchase. We're here today talking about our border and our sovereignty. I fear that abandoning the F-35 would undermine Canada's reputation with our allies.
Can you give us your thoughts on this?