'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
Engaged couple shot dead fleeing landlord after house dispute near Hamilton, Ont., police say
A 'truly innocent' engaged couple was shot dead while attempting to flee their attacker outside their home after a landlord-tenant dispute escalated on Saturday night, according to police.

Jan. 6 rioters are raking in thousands in donations. Now the U.S. is coming after their haul
Less than two months after he pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol, Texas resident Daniel Goodwyn appeared on Tucker Carlson's then-Fox News show and promoted a website where supporters could donate money to Goodwyn and other rioters whom the site called 'political prisoners.'
Venice authorities investigate after canal turns fluorescent green
Venetian authorities are investigating after a patch of fluorescent green water appeared in the famed Grand Canal on Sunday morning.
Russia launched 'largest drone attack' on Ukrainian capital before Kyiv Day; 1 killed
Ukraine's capital was subjected to the largest drone attack since the start of Russia's war, local officials said, as Kyiv prepared to mark the anniversary of its founding on Sunday.
Turkiye's Erdogan wins 5th term as president, extending rule into 3rd decade
Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection Sunday, extending his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade in a country reeling from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that levelled entire cities.
Jewish groups and city officials protest against Roger Waters concert in Frankfurt
Several Jewish groups, politicians and an alliance of civil society groups gathered for a memorial ceremony and a protest rally against a concert by Roger Waters in Frankfurt on Sunday evening.
How much would you pay for this piece of '70s nostalgia?
'The Brady Bunch' house has hit the market for any fan of groovy ’70s pop culture, but it’ll take much more than a hunch to get your hands on it.
Paul Walker honoured by brother Cody who names newborn son after the ‘Fast & Furious’ star
As seen in People, Cody Walker and his wife Felicia have named their newborn son Paul, in tribute to the fallen 'Fast & Furious' star. Paul Barrett ('Bear') Walker was born late last month.
Attorney for 11-year-old Mississippi boy shot by police says there's 'no way' he could have been mistaken for an adult
An attorney for an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by a police officer after he called 911 for help said Thursday there was 'no way' the boy could have been mistaken for an adult.