Mr. Speaker, a few days shy of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on December 6, which marks the tragedy that occurred at the École Polytechnique, the Quebec Minister of Public Security is giving his federal counterpart another opportunity to show his respect for the victims of this massacre by modernizing the rules on firearms.
Since 1998, despite technological advances that have made weapons smaller but more powerful, the federal government has failed to adjust its methodology for classifying firearms. The consequences are clear: a growing number of military-style rifles, which are of no use to hunters, are being freely sold and not restricted in any way.
Quebec is simply proposing that the classification system now take into account the firearm's power, calibre and projectile type, rather than just barrel length. The victims of gun crimes and their families deserve better than the federal minister's silence and his refusal to get involved. They deserve that we restrict access to the military weapons that are available because of the federal government's negligence.