QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Firearms Buyback Program
September 18, 2024
Government leader, I will return to the topic of the so-called buyback program for firearms and the shocking amount of money that has been spent on it already — over $67 million, leader.
Earlier this year, the NDP-Liberal government proudly unveiled one cargo X-ray scanner for the Greater Toronto Area to help stop the export of stolen cars. The scanner cost $3.5 million. Nineteen of these scanners could have been bought for roughly the same amount of money they’ve spent to crack down on duck hunters and sport shooters.
Leader, if your government wanted to stop the crime and chaos, wouldn’t scanners have been a better use of taxpayers’ dollars than your non-existent gun confiscation program?
Thank you for your question, senator.
It is the position of this government that the measures it has introduced over the years to reduce the availability of certain firearms on the streets of our cities are necessary and remain necessary to protect Canadians. This government’s position on its firearm legislation and its work to launch its firearms buyback program are centrepieces of its concern for the well-being of Canadians. It has never been the case that its legislation targets Indigenous communities nor law-abiding firearms licence holders.
It is regrettable that the program has not made further progress. The government is doing everything it can to move it forward.
Of course, the word “Indigenous” didn’t come out of my mouth when I asked you the question. I don’t know why you are referring to that.
Leader, yesterday, I raised with you the $11.5 million in contracts that external consultants have gotten out of the $67 million you spent on this boondoggle. Will you commit, leader, to table in the Senate the amounts and names of the vendors for each contract, the date the contracts began and ended and a summary of the work provided under each contract?
Thank you for the question.
No, I’m not willing to make that undertaking.
