QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Rural Economic Development
Firearms Legislation
December 1, 2022
Minister, on November 22, through last-minute amendments, without debate or committee hearings on Bill C-21, the federal government moved to ban hundreds of legally owned firearms and shotguns. Many of the weapons are rifles that are low powered, slow to fire and only designed to shoot birds or deer.
In rural areas, a rifle or a shotgun is an important tool. They also help put food on the table at a time when it is also too costly. These amendments will criminalize hunters and farmers when we know that the overwhelming bulk of violent gun crime is taking place in big cities. So why target legal hunters and farmers rather than the gangs and those who import weapons illegally?
Adding insult to injury through Bill C-5, your government has actually moved to reduce sentences for those who are convicted of serious gun crimes and violence.
Senator Wallin, thank you for that. Many in this Senate house probably don’t realize that I own a firearm acquisition licence. I started to hunt when I was a young gal with my dad, and I continue to do so, but I don’t have as much time now.
I can tell you that when you get into the details of Bill C-21, yes, there are some firearms found there. But there are many that do not impact hunters and farmers and those who use firearms for sustenance hunting.
We need to get this in place once and for all so that the topic is dealt with. We have invested billions of dollars at the border, and that’s having great success. The other fact that we don’t talk about enough is that a lot of firearms are used for suicides. So we need to make sure that the regulations are in place for safe storage and making sure that trigger locks are imposed.
I live in rural Canada, and we all can do a better job of making sure we have safe storage. I will fully support Bill C-21. This is not against fishers, farmers or hunters — this is to make our country safer. We all have to do our part, so I will be supporting that bill.
