The issue of firearms was on everyone's lips during the election campaign. What do the parties propose for better control of these weapons? We've dissected that for you.

To better understand the issue, it must be divided into two areas, says Francis Langlois, a firearms specialist in Canada and the United States. These are legal weapons and illegal weapons. “These are two issues that require two different solutions,” he explains. According to him, the public debate surrounding firearms during the elections mixed armed violence in cities and mass shootings. Two problems that require different solutions, says Mr. Langlois.

Illegal firearms: what do the parties propose to counter this scourge?

On the side of Green Party, nothing in the Green agenda mentions gun control. However, the leader of the party Annamie Paul mentioned during the leaders' debate in French that the problem of the proliferation of firearms must be addressed at the root. “We know that three quarters of the weapons used in criminal acts are not attributable to licensed firearms; they come from the black market. So, it's time to tackle the problem from the root, to talk about the upstream problems that can lead to such a situation, of affordable housing, of identity in our society. This is how we address the causes of crime and how we avoid the over-representation of Indigenous peoples and the Black diaspora in our criminal justice system,” we hear him say.

However, the leader did not specify what her community investment plan included. In an interview with La Converse, the French-speaking vice-president of the party, Clément Badra, tells us that he has no information on the party's proposals for border control. On the community prevention plan, he cites social measures proposed by the party, such as the establishment of a guaranteed living income, the abolition of post-secondary education fees, and universal pharmacare and more accessible mental health care in order to combat poverty in disadvantaged neighborhoods. When asked about the budgets allocated to these promises, the Mont-Royal candidate did not give any details. The Green Party did not quantify its promises.

On the side of NPD, on the issue of firearms smuggling and organized crime, it is promised to provide resources and equipment to stem the flow of handguns into the country and to mandate the RCMP to coordinate an enforcement program on firearms trafficking laws. The party tells us that it wants to give more power to the Canada Border Services Agency, an unquantified promise. To prevent armed violence, the NDP proposes to ensure that municipalities have access to funding for anti-gang projects in order to deter at-risk youth by improving the programs of the National Crime Prevention Centre.

The party says it wants to tackle radicalization by focusing on the prevention of extremism and violence among young people, in particular by supporting community initiatives, a promise that is not yet quantified. Without giving details, New Democrats denounce the lack of tools to prevent online hate and promise to tackle it. “The powers of the CRTC could also be strengthened to actively fight against this harmful phenomenon,” says by email Nina Amrov, Jagmeet Singh's press secretary, who did not fail to criticize the outgoing government without answering our questions about the budgets allocated to these promises.

The Bloc Québecois proposes an envelope of $100 million per year to federal agencies to combat organized crime and illegal arms trafficking at the borders. No mention of prevention by the community appears in the Bloc Québecois election platform. Questioned to this effect, the party indicates that social programs fall under provincial jurisdiction and that it wants to increase the Canadian transfer of social programs to the provinces (CSPS) by 6% per year. This program addresses poverty and social inequalities, but does not target marginalized youth.

On the side of Liberal Party, the outgoing government granted an investment of $92.9 million between 2018 and 2025 to the CBSA to counter the illegal entry of firearms. We are now proposing to strengthen the capacity of the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency, a promise that is not quantified in the Liberal budget. Questioned for this purpose, the Liberal Party did not answer our questions at the time of writing. The outgoing government is proposing higher maximum penalties for trafficking and smuggling firearms, which increase from 10 to 14 years in prison. For prevention, $250 million over five years is proposed for municipalities and Indigenous communities for at-risk youth by investing in activities to stop the spread of gang-related offenses.

On the side of Conservative Party, it is proposed to hire an additional 200 RCMP officers to fight gun smuggling, drug trafficking and street gangs. The Conservative Party is also proposing tougher penalties for the criminal use of a firearm and to establish a list of criminal entities. It is also proposed to amend the Firearms Act to counter the purchase of firearms by nominee, in the event that a licensed firearm holder legally buys a gun and sells it illegally on the black market. To this end, the Conservatives are proposing to amend the Firearms Act so that an individual, on three separate occasions during a calendar year, transfers a firearm for financial purposes, holds a commercial license. As there is no longer a federal registry for non-restricted weapons, this measure only applies to owners of restricted weapons, that is, handguns and short guns.

The Conservative Party is also proposing more sanctions for offenders. He proposes creating a street gang exit strategy with the private sector to “allow offenders to break free from a cycle of violence and start afresh in a new place, with a good job and the support required to leave a life of crime”, a promise that is not encrypted. Questioned for this purpose, the curators did not answer our questions.

Legal weapons: assault weapon control

On the issue of legal weapons, the parties in the running are proposing changes to handguns, assault weapons and permits.

What do the parties propose to control assault weapons?

The Bloc Québécois is asking the federal government to amend the criminal code to add an “assault weapon” category that would make it possible to ban all semi-automatic military-style long guns. He also wants to invest $900 million to buy back prohibited firearms. “The Liberals are now also promising the mandatory purchase of certain assault weapons, but only for the most popular models, with an envelope of $800 million. The Bloc Québécois wants to ban all assault weapons, which is why our amount is higher,” explains Bloc Québecois publicist Karine Lafontaine to La Converse.

The Liberal Party is attacking high-capacity magazines by requiring that long-gun magazines that hold more than five rounds be permanently modified so that they can never hold more than five rounds. We also want to ban the sale or transfer of magazines that could contain more bullets than the legal number allowed, regardless of how they were intended to be used by the manufacturer.

The outgoing government is proposing to tighten laws on assault weapons with a mandatory purchase of assault weapons prohibited by the decree of May 2020. The outgoing Liberals banned 1500 military-style assault weapons, including those used in the Dawson College and Polytechnique shootings. Initially, the Liberal Party had no intention of mandating this proposed buy-back program, which is due to take effect next year. If re-elected, the Liberal Party proposes to toughen the laws by requiring the owners of these firearms to sell them to the government rather than keep them.

On the NDP side, the party promises to “keep assault guns and handguns off the streets” with a broader definition of prohibited weapons to include new assault weapon models. An investment of $500 million is proposed for the purchase of assault weapons. With regard to handguns, it is proposed to allow municipalities to restrict or ban them.

The Green Party does not mention firearms in its program. However, Annamie Paul mentioned during the leaders' debate in French that she would ban all handguns and assault weapons.

In its platform, the Conservative Party indicates that it wants to repeal federal law C-71 on strengthening firearms legislation and the May 2020 decree that abolished 1500 military-style weapons. The party voted against the 2020 decree and unanimously against Bill C-71. During the election campaign, however, party leader Erin O'Toole changed tack and indicated that his government would maintain the restrictions of Bill C-71 and the 2020 Order in Council, while revising the classification system.

What do the parties propose to control handguns?

The NDP is proposing to put handgun control back to municipalities. Note that the Liberal Party also proposed relaying responsibility to municipalities in its Bill C-21 before correcting the situation provincial in its electoral program. In Quebec, the mayors of Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Gatineau, Laval, and Longueuil urged party leaders not to impose handgun control responsibilities on them. The Liberals and the Bloc are now both proposing to relay handgun control to the provinces. The outgoing government is proposing $1 billion to support provinces and territories to ban handguns.

Several provinces, such as Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, have indicated that they do not want to take on this responsibility. However, the CAQ government did not take a clear position on this measure. Questioned for this purpose, the office of the Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, simply told us that it will work with the current federal government on the issue and that it does not want this responsibility to fall to municipalities and that it will promote Quebec's interests.

The Conservative Party promises to “address the street gang violence that forces too many Canadians to live in fear” without ever making mention of handguns in its election platform. It is the most common type of weapon in street gangs. However, it is indicated that there is no desire to harass sports shooters and hunters.

Firearms license and law

Currently, individuals must self-report if they have a history of domestic violence when applying for a firearm license. Only Liberals and Conservatives are proposing changes to improve permit laws. The Liberals are proposing lifelong background checks to prevent people with a history of domestic abuse from getting a gun license. On this point, the Conservatives propose to require the automatic surrender of firearms if a licensed individual is charged with an offence against the person. If the charge was rejected, the weapon would be handed over to the holder.

On mental health, the Liberals are proposing a “red flag” law allowing the immediate confiscation of firearms if a person poses a threat to themselves or others. Instead, the Conservative Party is proposing to allow a health professional to inform the chief firearms officer if they are treating a person for mental illness and there are reasonable grounds to believe that possession of a firearm may pose a danger to others or to themselves.

The Conservatives add more to protect license holders “to ensure that an administrative expiry cannot result in criminal charges or the seizure of legal firearms owned by a holder.” It is also proposed to make it illegal to acquire new weapons or ammunition before renewing an expired license.

Can gun control measures make the population safe?

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A handgun.

Picture: Pablo Ortiz

This summer, numerous shootings took place in the neighborhoods of Montreal, Laval and the surrounding areas of the city. Gunshots fired in broad daylight and stray bullets that disturb the feeling of tranquility of citizens. For a few hundred dollars and without a license, young people can get guns quickly and easily. How do they end up in their hands?

Crime in big cities

In the majority of cases, these are illegal weapons that cross the Canadian-American border by organized crime. “With one of the longest unfortified borders in the world, there are holes everywhere where trafficking is possible,” explains retired Quebec police investigator Paul Laurier. “Guns are very and too easy to find, and the sale of weapons is lucrative,” says the former investigator who worked on organized crime and terrorism. “If the police in Quebec removed all firearms, I guarantee you that In a month, the guns will be back.” He links this possibility to the proximity of the United States market and the existence of channels between the two countries managed by organized crime.

According to Francis Langlois, a researcher specializing in firearms in Canada and the United States at the Raoul-Dandurand Chair, the American market is too big and gun laws are weak. “It is extremely difficult to counter this and the supply is virtually unlimited in the United States. But that's really where you find the guns. Our neighbor is the problem,” he analyses.

However, the specialist believes that border control will not change the violence in big cities if we do not invest in the prevention of violence in the first place. Ex-investigator Paul Laurier agrees. “It is not the regulation of firearms that will solve the problem. It takes people to go see young people and to break the phenomenon,” he said. “If we transform the socio-economic conditions of the neighborhoods most affected by this violence, it will ensure that young people can find a different path.” “Weapons make this violence more deadly, more dangerous.” They do not necessarily increase crime rates, they increase the possibility of being killed tenfold,” adds Francis Langlois.

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A transformation of the industry

The culture of firearms testifies to the transformation that has taken place in the industry. “Starting in the 1980s, we ended up with one of several military-style, police-style weapons, semi-automatic weapons,” says Francis Langlois. These weapons were not on the market before. “There is also the spread of the image of the weapon to ensure one's masculinity, to protect oneself. This is a discourse that is perpetrated by the industry, and this discourse creates a gun culture that is more aggressive,” believes the researcher.

There are now semi-automatic pistols on the market in which you can put 10, 15 or 20 rounds of ammunition. Assault rifles can hold up to 100 bullets. Mr. Langlois indicates that the Polytechnique massacre could not have been possible without a weapon that could contain 30 projectiles. “There is a whole discipline in rapid fire, it's new. It developed in the 1990s and 2000s. Not only are guns sold, but an entire culture.”

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Handguns: “the federal hot potato”

“In the streets, shootings don't happen with long guns. Yes, they cause damage, but the danger is handguns,” says Paul Laurier. Echoing the former investigator, researcher Francis also argues that these illegal handguns, which come into the possession of street gangs, come from the United States. The specialist says he does not understand the emphasis on handgun control in the public debate, since most of these come from illegal arms trafficking. According to him, it is therefore not a legal check that will solve the fundamental problem. However, some handguns found on the streets are domestic: they are stolen from the legal market or sold to non-licensed individuals by legal license owners. Nathalie Provost, spokesperson for PolyseSouvenir, tells us that the number of handguns owned by legal owners has doubled in the last ten years. According to Statistics Canada, there are now nearly one million handguns on the legal market.

Several federal parties have spoken out on handgun control, relegating it to municipalities or provinces. Francis Langlois and Nathalie Provost both believe that national control is necessary and these measures are not effective without such control. “Even if legal weapons are banned on the territory of the City of Montreal, it does not prevent weapons from entering and leaving cities,” believes Mr. Langlois. He cites the shooter in the 2018 shooting on Danforth Street in Toronto, who obtained his handgun illegally in Toronto. The gun in question was sold legally in Saskatchewan.

Shootings and assault weapons

“When legal weapons are regulated, it is mainly to limit mass shootings”, believes the researcher. According to him, the objective of controlling military-style weapons such as assault weapons, which have very high firepower, is linked to public safety in terms of suicide and accidental use and mass shootings. Most of the weapons used in this type of tragedy targeting the masses were purchased legally: this is particularly the case with the weapons used at the Quebec Mosque and Dawson College. “These are weapons that are prized by mass killers. That's why governments and organizations are looking to increase gun control. They are ideal weapons for the military or the police, but they are not designed to be used by civilians,” he said.

Since the destruction of the Canadian gun registry in 2012 by the Harper government, Canada has not had accurate data on the number of non-restricted weapons (i.e. shotguns and long guns) that circulate in the country. This makes it very difficult to know how many guns an owner of an unrestricted firearm license has. As a result, the Canadian government has lost track of numerous shotguns and assault weapons that were purchased. If in fact, the mandatory buy-back program proposed by the Liberal Party is interesting, it will be difficult to apply it, says the researcher.

As evidenced by Charles, an owner of an unrestricted firearm license, who does sport shooting. He has 11 firearms, including 3 assault weapons. None of his guns are on the 2020 decree. The young man has several friends who also own legal firearms. He says that the mandatory buy-back program mentioned in the May 2020 decree is the subject of a “running gag” in the firearms community. “If you don't know how many people have these types of weapons, there's an obvious loophole. Who is going to tell the government that they have them?” , he asks.

“What decree allows is for it to end the trade in these weapons in Canada. Thus, there is no longer any avenue for the legitimate use of these since we no longer have the right to transport, exchange, possess and use them. It is not perfect, but if we want to eliminate these weapons from the market, it is a good measure.” explains the specialist. The fact is that without a registry of unrestricted firearms, it is difficult to legislate, explains Francis Langlois. “It was the best, we destroyed it and it will not come back. It was too expensive,” says Nathalie Provost about the gun registry. The spokesperson for the PolyseSouient organization believes that no party goes far enough to control assault weapons for fear of losing votes if they propose too severe measures on legal weapons.

PolyseSouient is outraged by the argument of conservatives who do not want to “blame” gun owners who follow the rules with too many restrictions on legal weapons. “It gives the impression that Trudeau is harassing honest owners, when he only wants to remove weapons that are too powerful. We have nothing against nice owners, we are not taking away their ability to shoot, we are taking away models from them,” says the survivor of the Polytechnique massacre. She is outraged by the fact that a citizen's firepower may be higher than the firepower of a police officer.

Ms. Provost believes that the government should ban all assault weapons and that they have no place in the hands of citizens. “In all countries, where there is tighter control over firearms, there is less mortality associated with these weapons. I am not saying that this will solve the whole problem of illegal weapons, we are not naive,” she argues. It draws a comparison between the vehicles. “Do you realize that we control a gun less than we control a car? The cars are registered, all our governments know who has how many cars, how many cars they have. This is not the case with firearms,” she illustrates. The register provided the information for law enforcement to take action.

Is a permit too easy to get?

“It's not difficult to get a gun license, but it's very bureaucratic,” explains Charles, who got his license in six months. After taking a Canadian Firearms Safety Course, he took an exam the same day. “Essentially, you don't have to point the gun at the instructor and demonstrate minimal firearm skill,” he says mockingly.

A few weeks later. He receives his certificate and can complete an application for a firearms license on the RCMP website. After a few months, Charles received an unrestricted firearm license, allowing him to buy long guns and shotguns. No psychological exam, no need to justify why he's asking for a gun license. “No need to say it's for sport,” he said. “There are questions about criminal and violent histories, but there are no questions on the form about extremist ideologies and for mental health, it's a self-declaration,” notes the young man.

The form asks for two references that validate the applicant's ability to obtain a firearm possession and acquisition license “in the interest of the safety of the applicant or any other person.” Charles would like to see more steps taken to ensure that people who want to get a gun license are sane. He believes that the debate does not sufficiently address this aspect. “You can always make it more difficult to obtain a permit, but you have to invest the resources to really do the checks,” agrees researcher Francis Langlois.

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