Saying new legislation is not intended to interfere with legal hunting and sport shooting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government plans to introduce the strongest gun control measures to date to end gun violence.
"We all know we'll be hearing the well-funded gun lobby," Trudeau said as he laid out new restrictions in a media briefing with his Public Safety Minister and Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tuesday morning. "We all know there will be plenty of politics, but let's not forget what this is about, saving lives."
Data from Statistics Canada shows firearms were involved in 49 per cent of all homicides nationwide in 2019.
During his presentation, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair reminded Canadians gun ownership in Canada is a privilege and not a right.
"We do not arm ourselves in this country to protect ourselves from other Canadians," said Blair. "We have the rule of law to do that."
Bill C-21 would effectively end all legal use of the 1,500 assault-style weapons banned following a mass shooting in Nova Scotia that killed 22 people in April of last year. Selling those weapons, transferring ownership of them, or bequeathing them would become illegal. Their use would become a criminal offence, and those who do not participate in a federal buy-back program will have to register those weapons, so any police officer responding to a call involving a homeowner who owns those guns will be fully aware of their risks.
The buy-back program will be in place until April 30, 2022.
The legislation would also make it an illegal offence to alter a cartridge magazine, depict violence in firearm advertising, and impose tighter restrictions on importing replicas and ammunition. Police and border guards will have greater powers to prevent smuggling across borders.
Municipalities would get much-asked-for supports to restrict the possession, storage, and transportation of handguns through their jurisdictions.
"We are backing up the cities with serious federal and criminal penalties to enforce these bylaws, including jail time for people who violate these municipal rules," said Trudeau.
Toronto Mayor John Tory has long lobbied for those powers. The Toronto Police Service reported 460 shooting incidents last year that resulted in 39 fatalities and 177 injuries.
Those purchasing a non-restricted gun will have to show their firearms license. Vendors will have to keep point-of-sale records for all non-restricted firearms. Even getting licensed will also become more difficult with new enhanced background checks that delve into an applicant's lifetime history and not just the previous five years.
According to Statistics Canada, more than 99,000 people were the victim of intimate partner violence in 2018. Firearms played a role in over 500 of those incidents, and victim advocates across Canada and the U.S. have called on governments to enact "red flag" laws to have guns removed from the homes of those deemed at risk of committing violence. Under Bill C-21, they will get their wish. Police, friends, and family members would be able to apply to the courts to have those weapons removed from their homes. Those who promote hate could also have their guns seized, along with those at risk of harming themselves.
"Today's announcement builds on the important measures our government has already taken to keep Canadians safe within their communities," said Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti. "The multi-faceted approach to gun control we are proposing combines evidence-based policies, tougher Criminal Code penalties, and funding for programs that address root causes that lead to criminal behaviour in the first place."