With regard to the creation of a national weapons enforcement support team, NWEST: ( a ) will NWEST only support local law enforcement in anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling efforts, or will there be occasions where NWEST will act as the lead law enforcement unit while enforcing firearms related laws; ( b ) what will be the projected cost for the setting up and enactment of NWEST; ( c ) why was this funding not given to the RCMP so that our national police force could form a special unit similar to NWEST; ( d ) will the commencement of NWEST's operations result in the diminishment of Canada's existing law enforcement community; ( e ) have the new members of NWEST been sent to the United States to be trained for the NWEST by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, BATF, and if so; (i) how many people were sent for training; (ii) what are the backgrounds of the people who were trained; and (iii) what was the cost involved for the training and the travel?
In the House of Commons on May 2nd, 2001. See this statement in context.