Leader, my question concerns the Prime Minister’s recent statements on the second anniversary of his firearms ban. In response to his tweet, the Surrey Police Union had this to say:

The federal handgun freeze fails to address the real issue: the surge of illegal firearms coming across our borders and ending up in the hands of violent criminals. Our members are on the front lines of gang violence daily, risking their lives to protect the public. How can we truly ensure community safety when 85% of seized firearms are traced back to the US?

Leader, what is your response to this question not from me but from the police in Surrey, B.C.?

Thank you for your question. We know, as this chamber knows from the various debates we have had on different gun legislation, that there is a very big problem with the smuggling of illegal firearms from the United States and that is a completely separate issue and an important issue from the steps that we can take within our own legislative frameworks.

The government has provided additional resources to Canada Border Services Agency to do their best to interdict the coming into this country of guns from abroad, from the United States, and will continue to do so. This is an ongoing challenge, a work in progress. There are other issues like ghost guns and 3‑D‑printed guns that also need to be addressed, and the government will continue to focus on those important issues because they are.

Obviously, the government isn’t doing their job because we are talking about 85% of these guns.

The Vancouver Police Union also responded to the Prime Minister:

Guessing he’s not aware of the ongoing gang war here in B.C. which is putting both our members and public at risk on a daily basis.

Where do you think their guns are still coming from and what has he done to stop them?

Leader, what is your response to Vancouver’s police officers?

The government not only understands and respects but honours the work of police forces across the country. Gang violence is a problem in your province, as you pointed out. It’s a problem in my city. The federal government and law enforcement, provincial police forces where appropriate and others are working hard to address this.

Again, I repeat: The government is doing its best at the border to address the inflow of illegal arms from the United States.