The Liberal government is introducing a revised set of amendments to its pending gun legislation after dropping some initial changes that sparked outcry from firearm owners.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Tuesday the amendments to Bill C-21 include a new definition of prohibited firearms that encompasses certain “assault-style” rifles.
“These reforms are about keeping AR-15 assault-style firearms off of our streets while at the same time respecting gun owners,” he told a press conference.
In May 2020, the government announced a ban on roughly 1,500 makes and models of military-grade and “assault-style” weapons in Canada.
But gun control advocates have been calling for an “evergreen” definition of prohibited guns that would include more models and could apply to any future designs.
In February, the Liberals withdrew a series of controversial amendments that included such a definition after some firearms owners argued it would have unfairly targeted hunters and farmers.
Those clauses effectively would have banned any rifle or shotgun that could accept a magazine with more than five rounds, long guns that generate more than 10,000 joules of energy, or any gun with a muzzle wider than 20 millimetres — rules that would have rendered many firearms illegal.
Public safety minister announces amendments to firearms legislation
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says he worked closely with victims of gun violence and the reforms amount to a ‘strong package.’
Mendicino said the government came up with a revised definition after consulting with manufacturers, hunters and Indigenous communities.
The new proposed definition would cover weapons that fire in a “semi-automatic manner” and were “originally designed” to accept a magazine with more than five rounds.
The definition would only apply to firearms manufactured after Bill C–21 becomes law, meaning owners would be allowed to keep what they currently have.
Gun control advocates aren’t happy with the changes. Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, said the definition creates a “loophole” that leaves out too many models. She also raised concerns about the definition not being applied retroactively.
“[Our] request is very simple — a permanent and complete ban on assault-style weapons,” Provost said.
Nathalie Provost, right, graduate of l’École Polytechnique and survivor of the 1989 mass shooting, listens to Heidi Rathjen, graduate of l’École Polytechnique and witness of the 1989 massacre, speak about the government’s plans for “assault-style” weapons in Ottawa on Monday. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Heidi Rathjen, a witness to the 1989 massacre, said the changes “watered down” what the Liberals originally promised.
“It is another betrayal of all the victims of mass shootings,” she said.
Rathjen said that including the language “originally designed” in the definition would allow manufacturers to circumvent the intent of the law.
“It depends on what the designer had in mind and the designers are the manufacturers who have been known to tinker with their models,” Rathjen said.
Proposed amendments to C-21 ‘another betrayal,’ says Polytechnique shooting witness
Heidi Rathjen, who witnessed the Polytechnique massacre in 1989, says the proposed amendments are easy to circumvent and point to a ‘total capitulation by the Trudeau government’ on gun legislation.
During his press conference, Mendocino was asked about gun control advocates’ claims that the government had watered down the original amendments.
“I get that this is a very difficult and emotional subject matter,” he said. “But this is a strong, strong package [of reforms] and we will save lives with it.”
Some gun owners aren’t happy with the new amendments either. Rod Giltaca, head of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, said the changes still unfairly target law-abiding gun owners.
“We all want a safer Canada,” Giltaca said. “But you don’t go after everyone who hasn’t done a thing to deserve it as part of a plan like that.”
The government is also establishing an advisory committee to provide independent advice for potential future gun regulations.
But both Rathjen and Provost said similar committees haven’t worked in the past.
“That is a cop-out,” Rathjen said. “We know that these committees can be micromanaged to do exactly what the government wants.”
Giltaca said he’s open to the idea of an advisory committee but it would depend on who’s on it. He said his group would be open to participating.
“We’ve been open and welcoming to any kind of collaboration,” he said. “I would hope that all sides can come together. We can all work together for a safer Canada.”
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
