• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
    • Privacy Policy
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2024
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

How Canada Responded to One Mass Shooting

March 29, 2024 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

A memorial for the victims of the attacks in the Hydrostone neighbourhood of Halifax, Nova Scotia. A photo of the six victims of the April 30, 2020, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash off Greece had been added to the lower right part of the memorial
A memorial for the victims of the attacks in the Hydrostone neighbourhood of Halifax, Nova Scotia. A photo of the six victims of the April 30, 2020, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash off Greece had been added to the lower right part of the memorial. (Wikimedia Commons)

By R. Blake Brown

March 30 marks the first anniversary of the release of the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report into the April 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia that left 22 people dead. It was the most thorough study of a mass shooting in Canadian history.

The non-partisan commission’s 130 recommendations included several focused on gun laws.




Over the past year, the federal government has had a mixed record in implementing the commission’s firearms policy recommendations. Some provincial governments, however, have sought to limit implementation, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has provided little indication that he will follow the commission’s recommendations if he becomes prime minister.

Firearm recommendations

Among the commission’s recommendations:

  1. The federal government should “amend the Criminal Code to prohibit all semi-automatic handguns and all semi-automatic rifles and shotguns that discharge centre-fire ammunition and that are designed to accept detachable magazines with capacities of more than five rounds.”
  2. Ottawa must “take steps to rapidly reduce the number of prohibited semi-automatic firearms in circulation in Canada.”
  3. The federal government must close loopholes that allow gun owners to use large-capacity ammunition magazines.
  4. Purchasers of ammunition and magazines should possess a firearms license.
  5. Stronger measures need to be put in place to prevent gun possession by people involved in domestic or gender-based violence.
  6. Governments should adopt a public-health approach to firearms policy.
  7. Governments should improve efforts to combat gun smuggling.

Ottawa’s efforts

The federal government has implemented some of the Mass Casualty Commission’s recommendations with its most recent gun control legislation, Bill C-21.

In fact, the government described this law as being designed to “align with recommendations put forward by the Mass Casualty Commission.”




To help address intimate partner and gender-based violence, the act enhances measures allowing for emergency prohibition orders to remove firearms in situations in which gun owners pose dangers.

Bill C-21 also statutorily enacted a freeze on handgun purchases and transfers. In addition, the Liberals amended the definition of prohibited firearms to include models of assault-style rifles “designed and manufactured” after the legislation came into force.

Most gun control advocates supported the final version of C-21, but some noted that the legislation did not fully implement the commission’s recommendations.

For example, it doesn’t require current owners to dispose of handguns, and thus does not address the commission’s goal of rapidly reducing the number of semi-automatic firearms in circulation.

As well, the new definition of prohibited weapons left many models of semi-automatic rifles in the Canadian market. If models of such rifles were not previously prohibited, and have already been designed and manufactured, then they remain legal.

Other aspects of C-21 have yet to be implemented through regulation. This includes new limits on ammunition magazines.

The federal government has also delayed its buyback of assault-style rifles like the AR-15 prohibited by order-in-council after the Nova Scotia mass shooting. This again means that Ottawa is not following the commission’s recommendation to rapidly reduce the number of semi-automatic firearms in Canada.



Opposition to the recommendations

While the federal government has taken significant but incomplete steps, some provincial governments oppose the commission’s recommendations.

Alberta and Saskatchewan are supporting a Federal Court case challenging the prohibition of some assault-style rifles.

Several provinces, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, want to make it more difficult for Ottawa to carry out its planned gun buyback strategy.

Poilievre is critical of the Mass Casualty Commission’s work. In April 2023, he complained that the “commission is really an outrage.” In his view, the commission had “ignored the victims of crime” and “the facts on the ground.” Poilievre went on to criticize the federal government’s effort to prohibit some firearms.

Poilievre, however, is vague about his own firearm policies. His social media simply speaks of a desire to “stop Trudeau’s hunting rifle ban.” Some Conservative MPs, however, have promised to repeal the Liberal government’s gun control measures.

For example, Conservative shadow minister Rachael Thomas said on X (formerly Twitter) that a “Conservative government will repeal Bill C-21 and take real action to tackle crime and put criminals behind bars!”

Previous Tory stances

The Conservatives’ stance is at odds with some steps taken by previous Conservative governments and prime ministers.

Brian Mulroney tightened access to assault-style weapons, including the AR-15, after the 1989 Montréal Massacre.

In 2012, Stephen Harper rejected calls to make some high-powered weapons more available, saying that “prohibited weapons exist as a category under the law for essential reasons of public security.” He said his government had “absolutely no intention of weakening that category of protections.”

These wise words should be kept in mind by politicians of all stripes as they face the important task of implementing the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report.

R. Blake Brown is Professor of History at Saint Mary’s University.

The Conversation arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse and recognition of the vital role that academic experts could play in the public arena. Information has always been essential to democracy. It’s a societal good, like clean water. But many now find it difficult to put their trust in the media and experts who have spent years researching a topic. Instead, they listen to those who have the loudest voices. Those uninformed views are amplified by social media networks that reward those who spark outrage instead of insight or thoughtful discussion. The Conversation seeks to be part of the solution to this problem, to raise up the voices of true experts and to make their knowledge available to everyone. The Conversation publishes nightly at 9 p.m. on FlaglerLive.
See the Full Conversation Archives
Support FlaglerLive's End of Year Fundraiser
Thank you readers for getting us to--and past--our year-end fund-raising goal yet again. It’s a bracing way to mark our 15th year at FlaglerLive. Our donors are just a fraction of the 25,000 readers who seek us out for the best-reported, most timely, trustworthy, and independent local news site anywhere, without paywall. FlaglerLive is free. Fighting misinformation and keeping democracy in the sunshine 365/7/24 isn’t free. Take a brief moment, become a champion of fearless, enlightening journalism. Any amount helps. We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible.  
You may donate openly or anonymously.
We like Zeffy (no fees), but if you prefer to use PayPal, click here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sherry says

    March 30, 2024 at 4:13 am

    To those who absolutely refuse to admit that the massive proliferation of guns in our country contributes greatly to the increased number of gun deaths and increased gun violence. . . take a moment to read and truly understand how other countries are keeping their citizens safer.

    Australia greatly reduced their gun murder rate by doing a huge gun buy back several years ago.

    Please don’t start with the NRA/FOX BS talking points that we must protect ourselves against the criminals/crazy people/non-white people. You are being “DUPED”!!!

  2. Joe D says

    March 30, 2024 at 12:32 pm

    Funny….with all the CONSERVATIVE chest beating that the “Left” wants to take away peoples’ right to own guns, I see nothing in the Canadian commission report that speaks of gun “banning.”

    It does however want the removal of high capacity automatic and semiautomatic weapons (the AK and AR type mass shooting weapons)….who needs a high capacity automatic weapon for hunting or for home SELF DEFENSE?

    My pre-retirement State of Maryland has restricted gun laws…no high capacity (AK and AR) weapons. Semiautomatic pistols are allowed as long as they have a magazine of 10 bullets maximum…no restrictions on how MANY guns individuals can own, although I do think there is a maximum number purchase limit PER MONTH.

    You must undergo a criminal background check beforehand, and I think getting the permit requires some gun safety training, which DOES involve an extra amount of money.

    That doesn’t sound like gun BANNING to me…my father had 22 gauge rifles and 16 gauge shotguns for hunting, while I was growing up. They were in a locked cabinet.

    When my brother was 16 and I was 17, he took us to a gun range, and showed us the proper gun handling safety, and proper use and care of the guns.

    I don’t see anything unacceptable in the Canadian study….and I see no SECOND AMENDMENT violation in their recommendations. You still have the right to keep and BARE arms, but you don’t need the right to own an ARSENAL! And due to criminal or mental heath status, maybe you SHOULDN’T own a gun.

    The big issue is where are all these illegal guns coming from, and how do we trace them back to the source to hold THEM accountable.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Conner Bosch law attorneys lawyers offices palm coast flagler county
  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Primary Sidebar

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Enough is enough on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Nephew Of Uncle Sam on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Dakota on Palm Coast City Attorney Calls Mayor Norris ‘Unprofessional and Inappropriate’ 3 Weeks After Censure for Similar Behavior
  • Jaii Hein on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Laurie Jo Jo Bergman on Margaritaville’s Compass Hotel in Flagler Beach Opens in Buffett-Themed Celebration of a Downtown Remade
  • Kat on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Critical Eye on Palm Coast City Attorney Calls Mayor Norris ‘Unprofessional and Inappropriate’ 3 Weeks After Censure for Similar Behavior
  • JimboXYZ on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Grey Man on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • NJ on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Dave on Margaritaville’s Compass Hotel in Flagler Beach Opens in Buffett-Themed Celebration of a Downtown Remade
  • Canary on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • Canary on Palm Coast City Attorney Calls Mayor Norris ‘Unprofessional and Inappropriate’ 3 Weeks After Censure for Similar Behavior
  • More Blondes on Afrikaners are South African Opportunists, Not Refugees
  • America First on Danko No Longer District Director for Randy Fine; Congressman Calls for Nuking Gaza’s 2 Million Palestinians
  • No political affiliation on Palm Coast’s Golden Chopsticks Buffet Open Again 2 Days After Sanitation Inspection Ordered It Closed

Log in