Thursday, April 2, 2026
ADVT 
National

Trudeau hints at openness to gun bill changes

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Mar, 2021 06:38 PM
  • Trudeau hints at openness to gun bill changes

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is confident the Liberal government's approach to gun control is the right one, but added he's open to hearing suggestions for improvement.

Trudeau hinted today at a willingness to modify recently tabled legislation after family members of women killed in the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre denounced the bill as a dismal effort that would not make society safer.

The families, survivors of the mass shooting and witnesses said in a letter to the prime minister this week he would no longer be welcome at annual commemorations unless his government strengthens the bill.

The legislation proposes a buyback of many recently banned firearms the government considers assault-style weapons, but owners would be allowed to keep them under strict conditions, including registration and secure storage of the guns.

The letter to Trudeau says the buyback must be mandatory to ensure the measure cannot be easily overturned by the Conservatives, should they form government, given the party's opposition to the firearms ban.

The legislation would also allow municipalities to ban handguns through bylaws restricting their possession, storage and transportation — a move the letter says would create an ineffective patchwork of laws across the country.

MORE National ARTICLES

Speed up vaccines, Trudeau to tell provinces

Speed up vaccines, Trudeau to tell provinces
Concerns have emerged, however, that the payment of up to $1,000 is being claimed by people who are quarantining because they travelled outside the country.

Speed up vaccines, Trudeau to tell provinces

Vancouver home sales surge 53.4% in December

Vancouver home sales surge 53.4% in December
Vancouver real estate agents sold 1,026 detached homes, a 71.3 jump from December 2019. The board says the composite home price in Vancouver ended the year at $1,047,400, up 5.4 per cent from the same time last year.

Vancouver home sales surge 53.4% in December

Powerful wind storm buffets coastal B.C

Powerful wind storm buffets coastal B.C
Environment Canada's weather office says gusts of up to 120 km/h are possible in northern regions before easing by noon while winds of 70 to 90 km/h are forecast to hit the south coast by midday.

Powerful wind storm buffets coastal B.C

B.C.'s top doctor announces vaccination plan

B.C.'s top doctor announces vaccination plan
Henry says homeless people using shelters and health-care workers including family doctors will be given priority for shots.

B.C.'s top doctor announces vaccination plan

COVID-19 rules 'fraught' with ambiguity: judge

COVID-19 rules 'fraught' with ambiguity: judge
Justice Nigel Kent says public health orders designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 aren't clear and "provide very limited express direction" to families that are navigating co-parenting responsibilities.

COVID-19 rules 'fraught' with ambiguity: judge

Housing market assessments show 'resilience'

Housing market assessments show 'resilience'
Most areas had single-digit price increases with the exception of Vancouver and Squamish, which saw an average boost of 10 per cent for single-family homes.

Housing market assessments show 'resilience'