Hon. Jean-Guy Dagenais: In the last six months, nine police officers have been killed in the line of duty in Canada. None of these murders could have been prevented by the nature or the content of your Bill C-21. The violence responsible for the many shootings across the country in no way relates to the restrictions in your bill. These are criminals using unregistered firearms to kill.

When the violence isn’t linked to organized crime, the murders are being committed by people suffering from mental illness who are out on the streets when they should be in institutions.

If you take the time, as I have, to examine the origins of the violence, don’t you find it discouraging to see how much time public servants are spending trying to classify firearms rather than looking for immediate solutions to this violence? I’m talking about judicial remedies, law enforcement and medical solutions.

Hon. Renée Dupuis: Welcome, minister. For decades, many First Nations have been asking the federal government for adequate police and public safety services.

For example, I am thinking of the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, where tragic events have led to the death of community members. This community has asked the government to put in place Indigenous police services.

I am also thinking of the legal action taken, including by the First Nation of Pekuakamiulnuatsh, in Quebec, against the federal government. A decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal confirmed that inadequate funding constitutes discrimination.

In the 2023-24 departmental plan, a joint plan that you submitted with the Minister of Emergency Preparedness, you indicated that promoting public safety approaches led by Indigenous peoples remains an absolute priority.

Minister, what is your action plan and what deadlines does your department have for eliminating this discrimination against First Nations and putting in place police services under the authority of each First Nation?

Hon. Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety: Thank you for your question. My message is simple. We will continue to work in collaboration with the Indigenous communities. That’s why I went to Akwesasne a few weeks ago to announce a $12.1-million initiative to enhance the capacity of Indigenous police services in Mohawk communities and to strengthen cooperation with other police services in Canada and the United States. This initiative also aims to support local agencies by relying on Indigenous traditions, history, culture and values.

This is a mark of respect for the principle of reconciliation and a way to better protect our Indigenous communities.

[English]

Hon. Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety: With regard to any foreign-interference activities, whether in regard to the so-called police stations run out of Beijing or any other materialization of foreign interference, those are, as you know, questions that are best put to the RCMP, senator. I would say this: There is $49 million in Budget 2023 which will give them additional resources to help protect communities from that. The Conservative Party should support the budget. They don’t.

The second thing is that, regarding the registry, as I had already explained, we are taking decisive action on that front and will pass the piece of legislation as quickly as possible, but we have to bring Canadians along, including diasporas who are victims of and targeted by foreign interference.

The last thing I’ll say is that we are moving forward with the reforms that are necessary to fight foreign interference. You know that I just signed off on a ministerial directive to ensure we are getting properly briefed on the elected side of government. That is a step we took that, frankly, the Conservatives did not take the last time they were in government; they also did not take any of the other steps I have highlighted in the way we are fighting foreign interference.

[Translation]