Federal security agents seized a record number of contraband firearms in 2021, says Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.
“2021 was a record year for illegal firearms seizures but there is still a lot more work to do,” Mendicino told reporters on Aug. 17.
“I think it’s really important that Canadians know the federal government does see as a priority the need to stop illegal trafficking of guns at our borders,” he said, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“Handguns are the number-one type of guns used in homicide,” Mendicino said. “It’s a type of gun that has been growing on average between 45,000 and 55,000 new registrations each and every year and we want to stop that trend. We hope by doing so we will bring down handgun violence.”
Mendicino’s office said in a November 2021 briefing note that it was unaware of how many firearms the CBSA had seized during the year.
“The total number of firearms successfully smuggled into Canada is unknown,” said the note titled ”Efforts To Address Firearms Smuggling And Trafficking,” according to Blacklock’s.
The note also said that the seizures were “mostly from non-compliant travelers attempting to retain their personal firearms.”
The House of Commons public safety and national security committee heard testimony in February that said criminals can easily smuggle guns into Canada.
“In other words, there’s almost a zero percent chance that any illegal weapons entering the country via rail will ever be found,” said Weber.
As a result, Weber said the number of illegal firearms seized at the border is a small percentage of the amount getting through.
“As things stand, not only is Canada’s ability to prevent smuggling lacking, but its capacity to gather reliable and sound data is also inadequate,” he said.