Sask. introduces Firearms Act in effort to increase gun owner rights, public safety
The Government of Saskatchewan introduced legislation on Thursday aiming to protect the rights of lawful gun owners and increase public safety.
The announcement comes as the federal government looks to introduce Bill C-21, which is legislation restricting ownership of firearms.
The province said the Saskatchewan Firearms Act will establish licensing requirements for businesses or individuals, require and oversee fair compensation for any guns being seized, and require forensic and ballistic testing of seized firearms.
The act will also establish a provincial firearms regulatory system that will promote the safe use of firearms.
“We want people in this province to be safe and secure as they possibly can,” Christine Tell, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister said.
The Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) will primarily administer the new piece of legislation, according to a news release.
"The enhanced mandate this legislation provides will expand our office's ability to promote responsible firearms use and improve community safety," Chief Firearms Officer Robert Freberg said in the release.
The government dedicated about $3.2 million this year to begin development of several firearms initiatives, including establishing a lab to support police services, establishing a committee to determine the fair market value of any guns, enhancing training and education, and launching a Saskatchewan marketing campaign to promote gun safety.
“People who are lawfully in possession of firearms, PAL owners who are heavily vetted,” Tell explained. “These people, these legal firearm owners are not the ones committing the crimes.”
NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer said their government wants to ensure it will pass through the legislature.
“Very curious to ask questions about, in particular there are some provisions in there around criminality aspects that just want to make sure this will pass constitutional musters,” Sarauer said.
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) believe the province is doing what it can to help out rural residents like ranchers and producers.
“The ranchers, and the farmers, to people that live out in rural areas, I think the provincial reaction is warranted,” Ray Orb, president of SARM explained. “I think some of the things they are proposing will help quite a bit.”
Air-soft guns are also at risk of being banned under Bill C-21, which Strauss said is bad for business.
“As a business, you can’t take the risk of having inventory that turns into dead stock,” Strauss said.
CTV News also reached out to the federal government but have not received a response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.