MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Monday, November 20, 2023 (43) [English] The Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs met this day at 3:05 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Tony Dean, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boehm, Boisvenu, Cardozo, Carignan, P.C., Dagenais, Dasko, Deacon (Ontario), Dean, Miville-Dechêne, Plett, Richards and Yussuff (12). Participating in the meeting: Ariel Shapiro and Anne -Marie Therrien-Tremblay, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C -21,

An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms). WITNESSES: Association des directeurs de police du Québec: Didier Deramond, Director General (by videoconference). Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police: Bill Fordy, Deputy Chief, Co-Chair, Special Purpose Committee on Firearms (by videoconference). First Nations Chiefs of Police Association: Edward Lennard Busch, Executive Director (by videoconference). Vancouver Police Department: Fiona Wilson, Deputy Chief Constable.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Mandip Mann, Assistant Commissioner, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit — British Columbia (by videoconference); Joel Hussey, Inspector, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit — British Columbia ( by videoconference). Customs and Immigration Union: Mark Weber, National President. As individuals: André Gélinas, Detective Sergeant (Retired), Intelligence Division, Service de polic e de la Ville de Montréal. Stéphane Wall, Supervisor (Retired), Service de police de la Ville de Montréal. Bill Fordy made a statement. At 3:13 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:16 p.m., the committee resumed. Didier Deramond and Edward Lennard Busch each made a statement and, together with Bill Fordy, answered questions. At 4:04 p.m., the Honourable Senator Miville -Dechêne replaced the Honourable Senator Kutcher as a member of the committee. At 4:08 p.m., the committee suspended. At 4:14 p.m., the committee resumed. Fiona Wilson and Mandip Mann each made a statement and, together with Joel Hussey, answered questions. At 5:10 p.m., the committee suspended. At 5:20 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mark Weber, Stéphane Wall and André Gelinas each made a statement and answered questions At 6:23 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Ericka Dupont Clerk of the Committee