On Monday, October 23, 2023, Dr. Teri Bryant, Chief Firearms Officer for Alberta, and Robert Freberg, Chief Firearms Officer for Saskatchewan, testified about Bill C-21 before the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs (SECD).[i]

Saskatchewan and Alberta are staunchly defending the rights of their citizens from federal government overreach and, should Trudeau ram his confiscation scheme down our collective throats, these two provinces will force him to pay fair and timely compensation, and conduct their scheme in a way that does not impact public safety.

“The point of this legislation [Alberta Bill 8],” said Dr. Bryant, “is not to block the federal government in the legitimate exercise of its discretion in its areas of jurisdiction.”

“Our legislation is intended to ensure that whatever the federal government does… we will make sure that their actions do not pose a risk to Alberta Society at large.”

Dr. Bryant added that Alberta would ensure the federal government pays fair compensation and does so in a timely manner.

Mr. Freberg said the point of the Saskatchewan Firearms Act was the same, to ensure firearms owners are treated fairly and that public safety is protected.

“We’ve looked at the initial offers of compensation and they’re woefully inadequate,” he said.

“We’re there just to make sure that it gets done properly.”

 

Exemptions Exist on Paper Only

Senator Marty Deacon, asked about the exemption for an individual who trains for one of the permitted shooting disciplines (International Paralympic Committee or Olympic Committee).

“Have your offices had the capacity to handle the applications?”

Both Dr. Bryant and Mr. Freberg laughed.

“We have a number of people that we have tried to push through their applications,” said Dr. Byrant, “and we have not been successful in accomplishing it.”

“What is what is the … correspondence? What’s the denial?” asked Senator Deacon.

“There is no response.”

“We’ve had exactly the same [issue],” said Mr. Freberg. “We’ve even had our lawyer, Mr. Beaven, send formal letters, but they refuse to send a refusal because then the individual can go and file an application to court to have it overturned. So we’re not getting any paperwork. It’s just getting sat on.”

 

Praise for Public Safety Initiatives

Senator David Arnot praised Robert Freberg for the work he’s done to ensure Saskatchewan firearms owners know their responsibilities and adhere to them.

“I believe, Mr. Freberg, that the model that you’ve implemented in Saskatchewan, your interpretation of your mandate is a model for all of Canada, with the pragmatic things you’ve done, with the education that you’re working on and all of the stakeholders, farmers, ranchers, sports shooters, hunters, trappers, and the First Nations and the Métis people. You’ve gone out and you made those relationships work and you’re producing good results.”

Watch Their Senate Testimony

Dr. Teri Bryant and Robert Freberg did a magnificent job, both in their opening presentations, and in their thoughtful and straightforward answers to questions.

Please make time to listen to their opening statements.

https://cssa-cila.org/CFOTestimony

Dr. Teri Bryant and Robert Freberg made a compelling case that Bill C-21 is horribly flawed, and they did so in just five minutes each.

If you have a little more time, the question and answer session is where both Chief Firearms Officers truly shine, explaining the nuances that would otherwise have gone unnoticed by our Senators.

Finally, please reach out to Dr. Teri Bryant and Robert Freberg and thank them for their hard work to protect both public safety and the property of gun owners in their provinces.

Dr. Teri Bryant
Alberta Chief Firearms Office
PO Box 458, Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2K1
Email: albertacfo@gov.ab.ca

Mr. Robert Freberg
401, 1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK, S4P 2B6
Email: sfpinfo@gov.sk.ca

These two individuals exemplify what it means to be a public servant.

If women and men like them – honest, selfless and committed to service – were the majority in government, Canadians would not be facing so many of the issues we’re forced to deal with today.

 

 

 

 

Source:

[i] https://cssa-cila.org/CFOTestimony