Two Liberal MPs are opposing the federal government’s most recent amendments to Bill C-21, which will ban a number of shotguns and rifles commonly used for hunting, with one calling the proposed restrictions “worrisome.”
Liberal MPs Brendan Hanley and Michael McLeod, whose constituencies are the Yukon and Northwest Territories respectively, have both recently told media outlets they oppose the recent Bill C-21 amendments.
“I’m not happy with this [bill], and I’m not in a position to support this bill at this point with those amendments in play,” Hanley
told the CBC on Dec. 7.
“This is really upsetting. Many, many Yukoners … regularly hunt, either as a food source or for the recreational aspects of hunting.”
McLeod said on Wednesday that he has informed Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino that he will not support Bill C-21 until he’s “completely convinced [it] won’t affect hunters, sport shooters, and trappers in the North.”
“There are aspects of (the bill) right now that are a bit blurry for me and a little bit concerning,” McLeod
told NNSL Media. “I don’t know what is being suggested when it comes to changing the definition of assault weapons.”
McLeod also said he told Mendicino that he’s unsatisfied with Public Safety Canada’s consultation efforts thus far.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
recently told reporters that the federal government is “listening to feedback” from firearms owners so that it can ensure the legislation will not restrict guns commonly used for hunting.
“We’re not going after hunting rifles or shotguns,” Trudeau said during a press conference in Ingersoll, Ont., on Dec. 5. “We’re targeting the most dangerous weapons.”
In the House
MPs have debated the bill’s recent amendments over the past week, with some other Liberals saying they support the right to hunt but not to own “military-style weapons.”“I want to express my appreciation to hunters who practise this sport responsibly,” said
Liberal MP Brenda Shanahan, who represents the riding of Châteauguay—Lacolle, Que., in the House of Commons on Dec. 5. She added, “Real hunters do not need military-style weapons to practise this sport.”
The
recent amendments tabled for Bill C-21, which is currently
being reviewed by the Commons public safety committee, would
widen the current definition of prohibited weapons under the act to include 300 to 400 more types of firearms in addition to the over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms banned by the Liberal government in May 2020.
“I am a hunter,” said
Liberal MP James Maloney, who represents Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Ont., in the House on Dec. 5. “I would not trade those memories for anything, and I would not want to deny anybody else the opportunity to make them.”
However, Maloney added that his comments are “in no way inconsistent with the legislation before the House.”
“Hunting is one of the oldest traditions in Canada. It is a tradition that involves and promotes the safe use of firearms,” he said.
NDP MP Charlie Angus, who represents Timmins—James Bay, Ont.,
said in the House on Dec. 2 that while he agrees with Bill C-21’s handgun-banning clause, he is opposed to the act’s “targeting [of] rifles and shotguns with detachable clips.”
“This is a huge overreach that would impact rural, northern and indigenous people, and the government needs to fix this,” Angus said.
Hanley
gave a statement before Wednesday’s question period in the House, during which he reiterated his stance that the federal government should not restrict hunting guns.
“The need to address gun violence is very real, both in rural and urban Canada. Equally pressing is the need to preserve our ability to hunt,” Hanley said on Dec. 7.
“As Yukon’s MP, I will do my best to ensure that as we work together in the House to prevent one further death from gun violence, we will honour hunting as a way of life. It is the true Canadian thing to do.”
