Feds to act on election promise, ban assault rifles

OTTAWA — The federal government is poised to begin fulfilling a key electoral promise by banning a variety of assaultstyle rifles, including the type used in the 1989 mass shooting in Montreal.

During the fall election campaign, the Liberals said guns designed to inflict multiple human casualties have no place in Canada.

One source familiar with the plan, but not authorized to speak about it publicly, said the government intends to issue orders-in-council within days to ban several rifles, including the Ruger Mini-14 used to kill 14 women at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique.

Owners of legally purchased firearms that fall under the ban will be offered fair-market prices through a buyback program.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday there is a “large consensus” among Canadians who want less violence and fewer deaths from firearms.

“There is no need in Canada for guns designed to kill the largest amount of people in the shortest amount of time,” he said during a news briefing.

“We will have more to say on this when we make an announcement around what we’re doing to strengthen gun control in the coming days.”

The government also plans to empower provinces and cities to take steps to manage the storage and use of handguns within their individual jurisdictions.

Trudeau has faced renewed questions about the pledges following the recent deadly shootings by a Nova Scotia gunman.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair has come under pressure to move quickly on measures that do not require legislation — now even more of a factor given the severely curtailed parliamentary agenda due to COVID-19.