Questioning the Effectiveness of Bill C-21: A Critique of MP Hutchings’ Perspective

The discussion between Senator Pamela Wallin and MP Gudie Hutchings on Bill C-21 provides contrasting portrayals of the legislation’s implications. Senator Wallin highlights potential negative impacts on lawful gun owners living in rural areas, who depend on firearms for sustenance and protection. She points out that while these individuals are disproportionately affected by such regulations, violent gun crimes are more prevalent in urban areas, often linked to gangs and illegal weapon imports. To us, this makes a lot of sense.

Meanwhile, MP Hutchings, relying on her personal experience as a firearm owner, attempts to downplay these concerns. She positions the bill as a safety enhancement measure rather than a mechanism to criminalize hunters and farmers. Also, interestingly left out of the conversation are sports shooters. MP Hutchings insists that while Bill C-21 does indeed affect some firearms, it does not substantially impact those used by hunters, farmers, and sustenance hunters. Yet, this dismissive stance does not appear to align with the experiences of many Canadians, raising questions about Hutchings’ understanding of their realities.

Furthermore, Hutchings emphasizes the government’s substantial investment of “billions” in border control, which reflects previous “liberal MP statements”, and which she insists has shown success in combatting gun smuggling. However, the critique by MP Raquel Dancho in the House of Commons as showcased in the YouTube video clip “Canada Needs Frontline Officers, Not Middle Managers”, paints a very much different picture of the situation on the border and with criminal trafficking and gang ability to cross the border. Dancho demonstrates that despite claims of significant investment, “in the billions of dollars”, the number of frontline officers in 2015 was only 8400, a figure that has barely changed. In our opinion, billions of dollars yearly, should be enough to hire an army. The “low border officer” figures present under the liberal administration becomes even more concerning in light of the ‘Government of Canada’ 2022 Year in Review report, which states just over 6,500 uniformed CBSA officers in service. It could very well be the case that Canada is experiencing a “type of invitation for violence to occur in Canada” with a “suppressed security apparatus” and “prevention of a capability to tackle crime”. Given Canada’s expansive border, a figure of 6000 to 8000 is staggeringly low, perhaps enough to secure a small city such as Victoria BC. This discrepancy in taxpayer investment and effective recruited capability, raises doubts about the effectiveness of the government’s approach and contradicts Hutchings’ positive portrayal of “billions are being invested to reduce the possibility of crime or death.

Moreover, Hutchings brings up the issue of firearm-related suicides. While significant, it distracts from the main points of contention surrounding Bill C-21 and its potential impact on lawful gun owners.

The selective focus on firearm-related suicides seems misplaced, especially considering other more prevalent causes of death in Canada. The opioid crisis, for example, has led to a significant rise in opioid-related deaths. Google reports an alarming rise in apparent opioid toxicity deaths in 2022, and it may even be an exponential rise in death, as we now see an approximately 20 deaths per day, compared to 10 per day in the pre-COVID-19 year of 2019. This rise far exceeds firearm-related suicide rates, suggesting a potential misalignment in the government’s death prevention strategies.

Adding further complexity to the debate is the recent liberal government policy change expanding eligibility for assisted dying. With policies seemingly leaning towards “a pro-death culture”, it’s perplexing why the focus should be on the arguably “less significant issue of firearm-related suicides”. After all, many men have reported to us that no one would be concerned with what happens to them as they are men, and traditionally the concern is for families, children and women.

An unbiased analysis would not only compare “the number of firearm-related suicides” to “opioid deaths” and “deaths due to assisted dying” but also “project the growth rates of these causes of death into the future”. This approach could offer a more accurate picture of where the real threats to life lie on a long term basis, and we are certain that the numbers would not be comparable between ‘firearm related suicides” and “opioid deaths” or ‘deaths due to assisted dying” rates we are likely to experience in the future, or even in the present. The orders of magnitude are vastly different.

Hence, MP Hutchings’ narrative seems at odds with the data. It’s crucial to question why she, and by extension, the liberal government, would focus so heavily on firearm-related suicides while seemingly neglecting other rapidly escalating causes of death. This focus might serve other purposes, possibly aiming at broader objectives of firearm control rather than preventing deaths in the most effective manner.

The stark differences in understanding and portrayal of the effects of Bill C-21 between Hutchings, Wallin, and Dancho underline the need for more critical scrutiny. Canadians have a right to feel frustrated with Hutchings’ apparent misrepresentation of data and the potential ramifications of these policies. A fact-based discussion is integral to sound policy-making, and ignoring this principle can lead to severe consequences. It’s therefore essential that policy-makers address these discrepancies and align their strategies with the most significant threats to public safety.

Further, we have not put out this information because we have studied this issue in depth. However, we have noticed the lack of interesting research questions posed within federal government funded University research grant projects, and we hope to propose good and well imagined research for professors that could make a real positive impact on society! The Senate of Canada needs your help professors of Canada! We have put it out as a starting point, for any aspiring researcher that is looking for fantastical research ideas. Good luck in the research Canada!