Mr. Speaker, as the minister answered in the House, we have been truthful and we have brought forward all the information.
This question has been discussed many times. Not only is the RCMP now satisfied with the report, the hon. member should also understand that the firearms smuggling work group conducted the original study. Membership of the group included experts from the RCMP, the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the chief provincial firearms offices in both Quebec and British Columbia and the Ontario Provincial Police. The group selected the researchers and the principal researcher was under secondment from Statistics Canada.
Most recently, the RCMP reviewed the statistics—they were available—this time counting only those guns actually used in crime. If you ask a different question you must expect a different answer, and that is what happened in this case.
Commissioner Murray stated in his letter of December 30, 1997 which was quoted earlier: “The RCMP now understands the scope and methodology of the original”.
There is also question about the firearms mentioned in the original RCMP letter and cited by the hon. member for Yorkton—Melville. The member indicated that only 73 of the 88,000 violent crimes investigated by the RCMP involved firearms. This is simply not possible. Statistics Canada indicates that there were 195 firearms homicides in that same year and more than 8,000 firearms robberies were committed. Given that the RCMP is responsible for policing about 25% of Canada, if this is true then the investigation is a larger proportion than that indicated by the member.
I remind the House that recent events in the United States have shown us again that this legislation is important to Canada and to the safety of our fellow Canadians.