A briefing note to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino states a proposed federal gun ban will prohibit and confiscate firearms routinely used by hunters.
The question period note, “Comprehensive prohibition of assault-style firearms,” dated Dec. 14, 2022, states, “We recognize that the proposed changes may reduce the number of firearms that some hunters use today.”
The note also says, “We are not targeting hunters and those who use firearms to sustain themselves or their families.”
“The Government decided that these newly prohibited firearms and components are not reasonable for hunting or sport shooting purposes given the inherent danger they pose to public safety,” said the note.
It states that the government is “targeting firearms with sustained rapid-fire capability that can inflict significant harm to Canadians,“ but that “over 19,000 non-restricted semi automatic rifles and shotguns would remain available for Canadians to use.”
“Our government will continue to work to find the right balance for this bill,” said the note.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged last month that some hunting guns would be confiscated under the proposed legislation, although he previously said that the Liberal government “is not interested” in making hunting guns illegal.
“OK, there are some guns, yes, that we’re going to have to take away from people who were using them to hunt,” Trudeau told CTV News in a year-end interview.
“We are not interested in going after guns that are typically used for hunting and protecting farms,” Trudeau then said, adding the government will “consult” with Canadians on the proposed banned list.
Bill Stalled
Bill C-21 proposes to ban any firearm that is able to discharge centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner, and any firearm that is capable of holding a detachable magazine.
The note is dated one day after the Commons public safety committee stopped the bill from passing, pending public hearings scheduled for spring, noted Blacklock’s Reporter.
Manitoba Conservative MP Raquel Dancho criticized the bill’s amendments stating they would ban lever action rifles and common guns used for hunting.
“We’re talking classic wood stock hunting rifles that are being used that will be banned by this,” said Dancho. “That’s really the problem we’re coming down to. I don’t necessarily see a path forward.”
Opposition New Democrat and Bloc Québécois MPs cooperated with Conservatives in slowing passage of the bill, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“We are not going to clean up the mess the Liberals have made of this bill,” B.C. New Democrat MP Taylor Bachrach said previously in the House of Commons.
He said people feel “hoodwinked” by the Liberal’s sweeping, last-minute amendments.
“This was meant to be a bill about limiting handguns and protecting victims of domestic violence but now the Liberals are going after the tools that my neighbours use for hunting, predator control and back country safety,” said Bachrach.
Opposition members pushed the committee to hold at least eight public hearings on the bill, and include rural, northern, and Indigenous communities. Until April, with the start of a new fiscal year, funding approval for travel related to these meetings cannot be approved. Passage of the bill has been delayed until spring.
The government briefing note said the measures are part of the government’s plan to “reduce access to firearms not reasonable for civilian use” and an attempt to stop “illegal firearms from moving into and through our country.”
Peter Wilson contributed to this report.
