Justice committee  Very briefly, sir, that's what I've done for the majority of my career, namely, to lead joint task forces for gang violence, violent crimes and firearms offences. Basically, that's where my experience lies. It is an extremely effective way to deal with complex crimes such as cross-border drug trafficking.

Justice committee  Thank you. As I suggested, the use of a legislative clause or safety valve, as it's known, to allow judges in exceptional circumstances to examine the offender and offence in question would allow the establishing of a fit and proper sentence for serious crimes—specifically, those with firearms.

Justice committee  Thank you, sir. I did note that the United Kingdom has had mandatory minimum penalties for firearm offences for quite a while. Their mandatory minimum penalties are, in fact, more severe and strict than what Canada is proposing, but they have been successfully upheld in courts.

Justice committee  Good afternoon. The police in Canada support the primary objectives of mandatory minimum penalties to ensure consistency in sentencing, to protect the public and to discourage others from engaging in similar conduct. For police officers, victims of crime, members of the public and even the offenders themselves, the circumstances that result in a criminal charge for most firearms offences often result in a real threat to public safety, exposure to stress and trauma that has a lasting impact on mental health and the erosion of public safety.