A new Alberta bill is looking to wield a big stick for how firearms are regulated, including limiting federal funding agreements to municipalities and police if needed.
Alberta’s proposed Firearms Act could also regulate who in the province can participate in the seizure and confiscation of guns while also providing the possibility of determining what a fair price is for weapons in any buyback program.
While the bill holds open the door for such provisions, it does not explicitly legally define such aspects through legislation, according to Justice Minister Tyler Shandro.
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“For example, the seizure and confiscation of firearms. Because of this legislation, Alberta could create a regulation regarding who in this province can take part in this,” he said during a Tuesday media availability on the bill. “Regulations could also be developed to prevent municipalities and municipal police services from entering into funding agreements with the federal government.”
Shandro reiterated: “None of these measures are fully developed in the act.”
Despite the potential of limiting federal funds to police and municipalities, Shandro said the measure isn’t about defunding police.
“The province and municipalities will continue to fund the municipal police services — all seven of them — the same way that they have in the past,” he said. “If a municipality or municipal service wants to begin conversations with the federal government on taking federal money, on taking those resources off the street to be able to be involved in the confiscation program, that doesn’t make our community any more safe.”
He added the provincial government will have a seat at the table regarding any such federal funding discussions with municipalities or police if the legislation is passed.
Shandro said the legislation is designed to provide a nimble response to federal laws passed regarding gun laws, “and to develop regulations to respond at that time.”
The legislation also proposes to formalize the role of Alberta’s chief firearms officer, which is also anticipated to more than double the number of employees in that office.
Contact alex.mccuaig@producer.com
