Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue No. 36 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 18, 2019
OTTAWA, Monday, February 18, 2019
(66)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 4 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Gwen Boniface, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Boniface, Dagenais, Gold, Griffin, Jaffer, McIntyre, McPhedran, Oh, Plett, Pratte and Richards (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Busson, Deacon (Ontario), Dean, Marshall, Miville- Dechêne and Woo (7).
In attendance: Christina Yeung and Dominique Valet, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms.
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Irvin Waller, Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa;
Adam Ellis, Vanier Scholar, University of Toronto-Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies.
Zero Gun Violence Movement:
Louis March, Founder.
Communities for ZERO Violence
Evelyn Fox, Founder.
As individuals:
Marcell Wilson, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, One by One;
Michèle Audette, Commissioner, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador:
Ghislain Picard, Chief.
Assembly of First Nations:
Stuart Wuttke, Legal Counsel.
Statistics Canada:
Yvan Clermont, Director, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics;
Kathy AuCoin, Assistant Director, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics;
Adam Cotter, Analyst, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Coalition for Gun Control:
Wendy Cukier, President.
Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns:
Dr. Julie Maggi;
Dr. Najma Ahmed.
As an individual:
Alison Irons.
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights:
Rod Giltaca, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director.
National Firearms Association:
Sheldon Clare, President.
As individuals:
Solomon Friedman, Criminal Defence Lawyer, Edelson & Friedman LLP;
Dennis R. Young (by video conference).
Canadian Shooting Sports Association:
Tony Bernardo, Executive Director;
Steve Torino, President.
Shooting Federation of Canada:
Dr. Sandra Honour, Volunteer President (by video conference).
International Practical Shooting Confederation of Canada:
James Smith, President, National Range Officers Institute.
The chair made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Plett moved:
That the Committee on National Security and Defense consider a draft work plan now.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Pratte moved a motion in amendment:
That the word "now'' be replaced with "Wednesday, February 20, 2019''.
Senator Griffin moved that the motion in amendment be amended:
To replace "Wednesday, February 20, 2019'' with "today at 6 p.m.''.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, as amended, it was negatived.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was carried.
The motion as amended was adopted.
Mr. Waller, Mr. Ellis, Ms. Fox, Mr. Wilson and Mr. March made statements and answered questions.
At 5:21 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:29 p.m., the committee resumed.
Chief Picard and Ms. Audette made statements and, together with Mr. Wuttke, answered questions.
At 6:35 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:40 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Clermont made a statement and, together with Ms. AuCoin and Mr. Cotter, answered questions.
At 7:29 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:33 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Cukier, Dr. Ahmer, Dr. Maggi and Ms. Irons made statements and answered questions.
At 8:45 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:49 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Gilta, Mr. Clare, Mr. Friedman and Mr. Young made statements and answered questions
At 9:48 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:53 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Torino, Dr. Honour and Mr. Smith made statements and answered questions.
At 10:52 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Mark Palmer
Clerk of the Committee