Gun-control bill now expected in spring, Goodale says

The federal government SASKATOON now plans to introduce gun-control legislation, which is expected to fulfil promises made during the 2015 election campaign, sometime this spring.

Aimed at restricting access to handguns and assault weapons, the Liberal bill was expected late last year. On Thursday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale confirmed the new timeline.

“There have been many efforts in the past by different governments dealing with firearms safety that have foundered in the process,” the Regina Wascana MP told reporters at an event in Saskatoon.

“We’re working very hard to make sure that we get a piece of legislation that actually achieves the objective, does so in a way that enhances the safety of Canadians but at the same time respects the rights of law-abiding firearms users.”

Since taking power, the Liberals have stripped firearm manufacturers of their right to determine weapon classifications and overhauled the Canadian firearms advisory committee.

The government has also announced $327 million over five years, plus $100 million annually thereafter, with the aim of reducing gun crime and gang activity, Goodale spokesman Scott Bardsley wrote in an email.

However, the Liberals have been slow to enact other promises made on the campaign trail. These include the introduction of enhanced background checks for those seeking to buy a restricted firearm — a classification that includes pistols, revolvers and some semi-automatic rifles — and rules requiring vendors to keep inventory and sales records.

Last spring, the Liberals quietly deferred plans to introduce a controversial set of rules requiring every new gun made in Canada or imported into the country to be marked with the year and either “Canada” or “CA.”

Gun advocates have said the rules, which have been delayed eight times by four successive governments, would increase the price of every gun sold in the country, including paintball markers. At the time, Goodale said they needed “substantial re-writing.”

“To be clear, we have said all along that we will not re-create a federal long-gun registry, and we won’t,” Bardsley wrote in the email.