MONTREAL — Gun control advocates are sounding out Quebec’s main political parties ahead of the Oct. 3 election to see where they stand on issues such as a handgun ban and a gun buyback program.
“Quebecers are worried,” said Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the 1989 École polytechnique shooting in Montreal.
“Even this week, we were talking about concerns for politicians’ safety on the campaign trail,” she said in a recent interview.
“It demonstrates there’s a fragility in our social climate that we didn’t have even four years ago. Talking about gun control and explaining how it contributes to social peace … I think it should be discussed clearly.”
PolySeSouvient, an advocacy group that includes survivors and families of the 1989 École Polytechnique mass femicide, sent the questionnaire to parties this week. The group, which advocates for stronger gun control, is composed of survivors and the families of survivors of the shootings at Dawson College and the Quebec City mosque.
Provost said the group aims to provide voters with a better idea of where parties stand on gun control.
“The other objective is to show politicians that it is a real issue,” she said. “With the summer we just had, we don’t have to remind them.”
Montreal, in particular, has dealt with a spate of high-profile shootings in recent months, including the daytime killings earlier this month of two men within less than one hour, igniting more debate about gun control just ahead of the election campaign.
The Quebec parties are being asked if they would support using funding from Ottawa, announced during the last federal election campaign, to impose a handgun ban in the province and set up a provincial buyback program.
“That’s what our question is: would you do something if you have money, and the (federal) Liberals promised money a year ago, so maybe we can do something to be a bit more aggressive on the banning of handguns,” Provost said.
It also asks whether provincial parties would support an amendment to Bill C-21 to include a complete ban on assault weapons in Canada. The government banned 1,500 assault-style weapons by decree in May 2020.
“For PolySeSouvient and as a survivor of the Polytechnique femicide, that’s a pretty important question for me, because that was our first and main request from 1990,” Provost said. “We hope the provinces will be on the federal government and push for a mandatory buyback, even if this buyback is very expensive.”
The advocacy group also wants to know what parties would do to beef up the province’s long-gun registry, the only one in the country. It says that as of Oct. 31, 2021, only 1.4 million weapons were registered on the provincial registry, a number that seems low given in 2015, the province had reported there were an estimated 1.7 million long guns in Quebec.
“But we want all the parties to realize that it’s not because (the registry) exists that it is a strong measure,” Provost said. “They have to do things to reinforce that registry and make sure that those who contravene will (face consequences).”
PolySeSouvient has given parties until Sept. 16 to respond and will share its findings afterwards.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2022.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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