Area MPs call minister’s knowledge of firearms law ‘embarrassing’

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two area MPs are critical of the approach the Liberal government is taking on the issue of gun buybacks.

Following the Nova Scotia massacre in 2020, the Liberal government of the day announced the buyback of 1,500 models of what it called “assault-style” centrefire semi-automatic rifles with “high-capacity magazines” through an Order in Council. Announced under the pretense of increasing public safety, the government failed to mention that centrefire semi-automatic rifles have been limited to five-shot magazines for more than two decades.

Five years later, more firearm models have been added, including some .22 rimfire guns, but no guns have been purchased back from individual citizens. As of last fall, $67 million had been spent on the program, with no firearms purchased back. Buybacks from dealers began in November 2024, and the program concluded on April 30, with 12,195 firearms being turned in.

Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton recently questioned Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree on the topic, asking questions to determine if the minister was aware of the requirements for firearm ownership. He found the minister didn’t know what the Canadian Firearms Safety Course or a Restrict Possession and Acquisition License was. All firearms owners must take the former, and those who own handguns must have the latter.

“I was shocked to learn the minister overseeing firearms in Canada doesn’t even know the basics of Canada’s gun laws,” Lawton said. “As a law-abiding firearms owner myself, I know that Canadian hunters, sport shooters, and collectors take public safety very seriously, which is why it’s so frustrating to see Liberal laws that target law-abiding gun owners while letting criminals walk free.”

Lawton’s solution: “I’ve invited the public safety minister to come out to my gun club, the East Elgin Sportsmen’s Association (in Aylmer), to learn the facts. I hope he’ll take me up on the offer.”

Oxford MP Arpan Khanna noted that many members of the new Cabinet are the same people who have been going after lawful gun owners instead of criminals with the last government. He believes the minister should have been up to speed.

“Yes, I understand, it's only been a few weeks for some of them since taking the file on, but not having answers to basic, basic questions, basic numbers, basic understanding of the system, shows you how we got the problems where we are today, because if you don’t understand your file, how are you supposed to make those changes in the policy,” he said.

Khanna said the Conservatives have taken a different approach and believe in going after the criminals.

“This government has been so focussed on lawful gun owners and just trying to put the optics on that, while we're going after repeat violent offenders who don't use lawful legal guns,” Khanna said, adding criminals use guns smuggled in from the States.

In related news, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's recent Leger poll found the majority of Canadians surveyed would rather the government spend money to focus on criminals instead of buying guns back from law-abiding citizens. The government’s financial documents include a line titled "Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program" with a $342 million price tag.