Alberta Justice Minister Criticizes Feds for Not Publishing Info on Provinces Opposed to Gun Confiscation

Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro answers questions at a news conference in Calgary on Sept. 3, 2021. The Canadian Press/Todd Korol

Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said on Nov. 3 that the federal government made a “unilateral” decision to withhold meeting notes related to multiple provinces’ refusal to devote policing resources to the federal gun buyback program.

The information stemmed from the annual federal-provincial-territorial meeting of Justice and Public Safety ministers, which was held on Oct. 13 and 14. Usually, official meeting notes summarizing discussions and decisions are made public.

Shandro said that the government informed the provinces and territories that it wouldn’t be releasing the communiqué publicly due to a “lack of consensus on language.”

“The federal government’s unilateral decision to cease discussions on the release of the joint communiqué undermines the ability of Canadians to learn about key justice and public safety initiatives ministers discussed,” Shandro said in a statement.

“The disagreement over language centred on Alberta’s request that provinces opposed to taking police officers off the street to confiscate firearms be listed by name in the communiqué.

Alberta has demanded the feds list all provinces that have refused to use provincial policing resources for federal gun confiscation.

So far, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon, and New Brunswick have stated their opposition to using police resources for the so-called federal gun “buyback” program, which will see more than 2,000 models of firearms, including rifles and shotguns commonly used for hunting and shooting sports, banned by federal decree.

The Liberal government implemented the gun ban in May 2020, by reclassifying thousands of firearms purchased legally as prohibited weapons.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau specified that it would be a ban on what he called “military-style assault rifles.” Automatic weapons are already banned in Canada. All legal gun owners are subject to training, testing, and extensive background checks by police before being issued a permit to own a firearm.

“Two years ago, the federal government said that using police resources would be ‘expensive and inefficient,’” Shandro said. “Now the federal government has resorted to using police resources to seize firearms from Canadians. Make no mistake, the federal firearms confiscation program will cost us billions and will not improve public safety. Alberta’s government is not legally obligated to provide resources and will not do so.”

Opposition

Sask. Chief Firearms Officer Bob Freberg wrote to the RCMP in September stating “no provincially funded resources of any type,” will be devoted to seizing legally purchased guns from registered firearms owners.

The Yukon legislature passed a motion on Oct. 12 saying that local police will not become enforcement for the federal government’s seizure and confiscation of personal property.

Meanwhile, Manitoba Justice Minister and Attorney General Kelvin Goertzen, said: “Manitoba has consistently stated that many aspects of the federal approach to gun crimes unnecessarily target lawful gun owners while having little impact on criminals, who are unlikely to follow gun regulations in any event.”

Shandro said Quebec is “routinely extended” the courtesy of being noted as in opposition to a particular federal initiative. Alberta, he said, expects the same.

“Alberta has asked over and over again to be treated as an equal partner in Confederation, on par with Quebec. The federal government made it clear that it is unwilling and disinterested in even taking a small step in that direction.”