Justice committee  Not for drug recognition experts.

Justice committee  By year five. The five-year funding was announced on September 8, so within five years we will augment that number to approximately 750 to 800. I think the number you may have been thinking about is the number for what we call SFSTs, standard field sobriety tests. We're so used to acronyms in the federal government.

Justice committee  Mr. Chairman and committee members, thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you today from a law enforcement and public safety perspective regarding Bill C-46. As you know, my name is Kathy Thompson. I'm the assistant deputy minister at Public Safety Canada and I'm responsible for the drug file, principally.

Health committee  As the honourable member noted, there is currently a process whereby Canadians who have been convicted of sole, single possession, can apply to the national Parole Board for a pardon five years after serving their sentence. That is the process currently in place. There are no plans at this time to introduce an automatic pardon.

Health committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll take that question. As I said earlier, CBSA will be working to make sure that Canadians are aware of the fact that it is illegal in the United States and also that it continues to be illegal and prohibited to import or export. Also, they'll be reminded that every country has the right to determine admissibility, as does the U.S., and they will be counselled on responding truthfully to any questions asked by a border official.

Health committee  Just to build on that, it's currently prohibited to import or export cannabis. That will continue to be the case. It will continue to be prohibited to import or export it under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Moreover, CBSA will be undertaking awareness campaigns. They have received some funding to do that.

Health committee  We know that it's going to take some time to fully displace a sector that, over a century, has made a good gain in this area. It's going to take some time, and it's going to take a robust regime. You've heard Ms. Bogden describe some of the key elements that we are trying to address to ensure that we do displace organized crime, including a safe supply and, as well, communicating to Canadians that there is a safe supply available to them; making sure there is access for Canadians; and also ensuring that we meet marketplace demands, which goes to the variety.

Public Safety committee  As Monik said, this is an area we could take a lot of time to talk about, and I don't want to take all of your time. You asked for one or two key issues that are keeping us up at night. If we look at the crime rate, it peaked in 1991, but really overall the crime rate has been going down over the last two decades.

Public Safety committee  Thank you. In 2012, the government implemented a national strategy, an action plan to combat human trafficking. Since then, we have had a four-pronged strategy that includes prevention, protection, and partnerships. We are working closely on the file with a number of federal agencies and departments, such as the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP.

Public Safety committee  I can assure you that we are working on the action plan and considering a variety of projects. But I can't give you any specifics on time frames. I would have to get back to you with that information.

Public Safety committee  At public safety, we have a number of programs that are directed to indigenous communities and have been in place for a number of years. One of those programs that we're very proud of and that is extending to communities across the country is called community safety plans. We work with indigenous communities.

Public Safety committee  No.

Public Safety committee  No. The ATT will be attached to conditions of a licence and it's simply going to streamline that process. I'll mention the two purposes for acquiring a firearm, one is for a gun collection and is very specific, and the other purpose is for use at a shooting range. Today the amendment that is being considered, as part of Bill C-42, is a condition on the licence that, if approved, would allow a licensee to transport a restricted or prohibited firearm to very specific destinations, including going to and from a shooting range, to your own residence, to a gunsmith, to a gun show, to a Canadian port of entry as we discussed earlier, and to a peace officer or a chief firearms officer, either for verification, registration, or for disposal.

Public Safety committee  Bill C-42 does not contain any provision to limit the power of chief firearms officers. The bill simply entitles the Government of Canada to limit those powers through regulation, if need be. That is all. The government is giving itself the power to ensure that the national program will continue to be a national program.

Public Safety committee  Yes, because there would be a regulation. A request would have to be prepared for the government.