Sask. joins Alberta in vowing not to support proposed federal firearm buy-back program
The Government of Saskatchewan has made its opinion clear on a proposed federal buy-back program of over 1,500 models of firearms.
Owners of these “assault-style weapons” across Canada have one more year to dispose of them, following a federal Order in Council (OIC) on May 1, 2020.
The OIC banned nine types of firearms by make and model. Included are firearms with a bore of 20mm or greater and those capable of discharging a projectile with a muzzle energy greater than 10,000 joules.
The gun buy-back program initially proposed by the federal government was set to be operated by the private sector.
However, the Sask. government doesn’t want the RCMP in the province participating in any way.
“These firearms that we are talking about in Saskatchewan belong to legal firearms owners and they’re licensed, they’re heavily vetted and monitored by the firearms office,” said Christine Tell, Minister of Policing and Public Safety
Minister Tell has sent a letter to the head of the Saskatchewan RCMP.
In the letter she stated that the government will not “authorize the use of provincially funded resources of any type for the federal government’s buyback program.”
Saskatchewan pays 70 per cent of the cost of RCMP policing in the province.
Last week, the Alberta’s Justice Minister, Tyler Shandro, made a similar request of the RCMP.
“Then don’t use provincial policing resources to take them off the streets and be distracted with implementing the program.”
Federal Minister for Public Safety, Marco Mendicino, has called the provincial position reckless and maintains the federal government holds jurisdiction.
“We need to implement the buyback program to get these assault-style rifles out of our communities once and for all,” Mendicino told CTV News.
The Saskatchewan RCMP have declined to comment on the current issue.
The police force may have to seek legal advice to determine whether it’s the federal or provincial government that ultimately has jurisdiction.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.