'Groundswell of opposition': Firearms bill backtrack applauded by critics in Alberta, Ottawa
Alberta's justice minister is celebrating Friday's scrapped amendments to the federal firearms legislation, but Tyler Shandro believes more work needs to be done on Bill C-21.
The federal Liberal party withdrew a controversial amendment this week that introduced a new definition of an assault-style weapon.
That definition was drastically expanded to include semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with a capacity of more than five cartridges.
Shandro believes it would target the wrong people.
"It is becoming increasingly clear that further action will need to be taken to respond to the federal government’s hostility towards hunters, farmers, sport shooters and Indigenous Peoples," he said in a statement Friday.
The province is set to intervene in six ongoing lawsuits launched against the legislation.
They'll be heard in April.
"Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino released a statement on Twitter that made it clear the federal government’s decision to withdraw the amendments was merely a pause in their campaign," Shandro's statement said.
"Law-abiding firearms owners know that this is thinly worded code signalling Minister Mendicino’s intent to continue to pursue avenues to ban widely owned shotguns and rifles."
The Liberals say the bill will be amended once again after more consultation.
WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION
Bill C-21 was introduced last May.
It was originally an effort to enact a handgun sales ban and crack down on firearm smuggling.
But along the way, critics say its expanded scope has lessened the impact and instead targeted law-abiding Canadians.
The amendment with the new definition of an assault-style weapon was added to the bill at committee at the end of November, after the committee had finished debating the bill and hearing from witnesses.
NDP MP Alistair MacGregor said the amendment "derailed" all other progress on C-21.
"I've never seen such a groundswell of opposition come really from everywhere all at once," he said.
The recent amendments would have banned the weapons under the Criminal Code, which would have made the potential law more difficult for future governments to reverse.
"It is not our intention to impact those that are hunting and using firearms for hunting," government house leader Mark Holland said Friday.
"We acknowledge and regret that the consultations we undertook were not sufficient."
TARGETED
One Calgary business says the amendments still hurt its bottom line, despite not being passed.
"I would venture to guess 50 to 70 per cent of our inventory would have been prohibited," Shooting Edge general manager Steven Arena told CTV News.
"Every day, you do hear from customers who say, 'I would buy that if I wasn't afraid it would become prohibited.'
"Nobody has $3,000 to just waste on something that will make them a criminal in two months."
Arena called Friday's backtrack a small victory, but he still believes C-21 should be completely scrapped.
"The bill focuses strictly on legal gun ownership, and it will have zero impact on the safety of your community," he said.
"It won't make any difference, I guarantee it."
With files from the Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.