Question Period Note: Government Measures to Reduce Gun Violence

The Government of Canada’s commitments to strengthen gun control and ban assault-style firearms.

• Today, Canadians will remember and mourn the tragic loss of 14 women at the École polytechnique de Montréal.

• The Government is committed to taking all measures necessary to reduce gun violence in this country, including addressing the problem of gender-based and intimate partner violence head on.

• This is why we intend to move quickly on a ban on assault-style firearms and are committed to temporarily suspending all firearms licenses for people who are suspected of posing a danger to themselves or others, including their partner or kids.

• We will continue to listen to Canadians to ensure that our approach treats law-abiding gun owners and businesses fairly, while protecting the safety and security of our citizens.

If pressed on Handgun Ban
• Our plan is to work with provinces, territories and municipalities by empowering them to enact additional requirements to restrict the storage and use of handguns within their jurisdictions.

If pressed on Assault-style firearms ban and buy-back
• We believe these assault-style firearms have no place in Canada, and will begin a ban and buyback as quickly as possible.

• For the past several decades, overall crime rates in Canada have generally been decreasing. However, in recent years firearms-related homicides have increased. Firearms-related homicide doubled from 2013 to 2017 (134 to 267) but fell slightly in 2018 (249). Shootings have now become the most common method of homicide. According to police, gang violence accounted for approximately 52% of firearms-related homicides in 2017.

• This rising firearms-related violence is fueling public concern and giving rise to demands for federal action to curtail the availability of firearms in Canada.

Guns and Gangs

• The Government has made federal investments of up to $327.6 million over five years, and $100 million ongoing, to establish the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence. The majority of resources, approximately $214 million over 5 years is allocated to provinces and territories (PTs) to combat the issue of gun and gang violence in communities across Canada. These resources complement existing efforts under the National Crime Prevention Strategy through the Youth Gang Prevention Fund, which received additional $8 million over four years beginning 2019.

• Ten PTs have signed multi-year funding agreements under the Guns and Gangs Violence Action Fund. Quebec and PEI are currently in the process of negotiating and finalizing their contribution agreements so funding may flow as soon as possible. The Government also provided $86 million to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Border Services Agency to enhance firearms investigations and strengthen controls at the border to prevent illegal firearms from entering the country.

Bill C-71, An Act to amend Certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms

• Bill C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019.

• Provisions clarifying that seized firearms are considered forfeited to the Crown have come into force, as have those allowing remaining long-gun registration records to be transferred to Quebec.

• Provisions related to licence verification, eligibility, vendor record-keeping and transportation would be brought into force through Orders in Council, once the necessary administrative changes have been made, funding has been approved and the associated regulations have been tabled in Parliament.

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