As you are aware, private member s Bill C-440, which proposes similar actions as those suggested by the CPA, is now in the House of Commons. It is expected that this bill, which deals directly with police officer and public safety , will be considered by Parliament in the fall. As a final note on recent actions that we have taken to address policing needs in Canada, I would like to mention one very special accomplishment. As most of you are aware, last year the federal government officially proclaimed the last Sunday of September every year as Canada s Police and Peace Officers National Memorial Day. We all regret, however, that next month we will be paying our respects to more fallen officers.
Any fallen officer is one too many.
I understand that you have just had a lively debate about gun control. Canadians overwhelmingly support gun control and agree that the registration of all guns is a reasonable approach in a country that values the safety and well-being of its citizens. In fact, the Attorney General of the United States, Janet Reno, just this month used Canada as an example to illustrate the benefits of gun registration. The registry recognises our desire to create a culture of safety around the use of firearms. Through it, we hope to increase the level of safety not only for police officers but for all Canadians.