March 19, 2021
Province Creates New Advisory Group to Review Bill C-21
The Manitoba government has created a new advisory group to review and provide detailed feedback on the Government of Canada’s proposed Bill C-21: an act to amend certain acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen and Justice Minister Cameron Friesen announced today.
“Our government continues to hear concerns from hunters, trappers and sport shooters around the proposed federal legislation Bill C-21,” said Pedersen. “Although there are some portions of the legislation that we support, we feel the proposed legislation unfairly targets legal firearm owners. The evidence is clear that hunters, trappers, sport shooters and rural landowners are not the issue when it comes to firearm related crimes.”
The Government of Canada has recently introduced Bill C-21, proposed legislation that deals directly with firearms and their use, including making compliance with municipal bylaws related to handgun storage and transportation a mandatory firearm license condition, as well as requiring legal firearm owners to participate in a buyback program or comply with a non-permissive storage regime on prohibited firearms.
“Our government is committed to addressing the issue of gun crime and working effectively with law enforcement agencies to get illegal firearms off our streets,” said Friesen. “The proposed federal bill would result in a patchwork of approaches across the country, which would be confusing, ineffective and unenforceable. If the federal government was really serious about cracking down on guns used in the commission of a crime, they would focus on preventing the illegal importation of weapons into Canada rather than targeting legal firearm owners.”
The new provincial advisory group will review the proposed legislation, and detail how it directly affects Manitobans and provide feedback with their suggestions for the Province of Manitoba’s consideration. The group will be comprised of individuals and organizations that will be directly impacted by the federal government’s proposed new legislation.
Members of the advisory group include:
• Paul Conchatre – Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association;
• Carly Deacon – Manitoba Wildlife Federation;
• Rob Andrushuk – Manitoba Trappers Association;
• Darrel Deslauriers – Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Manitoba;
• Archie McPherson – Reeve, RM of Pipestone;
• Matt Hipwell – president, Wolverine Supplies;
• Grant Boryskavich – Reeve, RM of Riding Mountain West;
• Dean Barteski – youth mentor and former farmer; and
• Thomas Nepinak – First Nations elder.
Rick Wowchuk, legislative assistant to the minister of agriculture and resource development, will lead the advisory group.
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