Mr. Speaker, in March I asked the public safety minister why his government is moving to confiscate legally purchased firearms from hunters and sport shooters instead of getting tough on real criminals. In response, the minister claimed that his government is putting “Canadians' safety first.” However, if the Liberals were trying to put safety first, they would not have voted against a Conservative bill to impose tougher sentences on criminals caught with smuggled guns. They also would not have introduced a bill allowing lighter sentences for people convicted of serious gun crimes.
In February, the government introduced a bill removing mandatory minimum sentences for crimes like weapons trafficking, using a firearm in commission of an offence, possession of a loaded handgun, illegally firing a weapon with intent, robbery with a firearm, extortion with a firearm and more. I fail to understand how this is putting Canadians' safety first.
The Conservatives have a plan to actually keep Canadians safe from violent crime. That plan includes strengthening anti-gun and anti-gang units, supporting the CBSA in cracking down on cross-border smuggling, supporting mental health initiatives and bringing in real consequences for real criminals. Our plan does not include cracking down on duck hunters while letting violent criminals off with a slap on the wrist, as the Liberals are.
The Liberals' plan to confiscate guns from law-abiding Canadians is, frankly, overreaching and incoherent. They hide behind vague terms like “military style” without ever defining what that label means, all the while passing legislation and moving forward on measures to ban many rifles used for sport shooting and hunting. With the latest firearm ban they announced last year, it was reported that several hunting rifles and shotguns were included on the list. This is truly not putting Canadians' safety first; it is only criminalizing lawful gun owners and law-abiding Canadians.
I raise this issue again because I have heard from many in my riding who are deeply concerned about the government's approach to this. Aside from COVID, it is far and away the single biggest issue I have heard about in my riding. I get the greatest number of calls and emails about this, and people are writing by mail too. They are concerned about the government's approach.
I have heard from countless constituents about this, who reached out to me from Weagamow, Fort Severn, Lac Seul and first nations across the region. They are concerned that the government is limiting their ability to hunt.
When I visited the Lake of the Woods Gun Club, I heard many concerns about the Liberals' misguided priorities. When I went shooting at the Sioux Lookout Handgun and Rifle Club, I heard about the already robust set of rules that members must follow. When visiting the Vermilion Bay Rod & Gun Club, I was urged to stand up against the government's heavy-handed attack on our way of life in northwestern Ontario. I have heard similar concerns raised by members of the clubs in Ear Falls, Dryden and Red Lake and by residents across northwestern Ontario. Some residents who are not even living in my riding have reached out to me to share their concerns.
I will take this opportunity to ask the parliamentary secretary my question again. Will the government stop targeting law-abiding hunters and sport shooters and instead take real measures to fight real criminals?