Liberals Table Motion to Expand/Limit C-21

Today, the Liberal government tabled a motion in the House of Commons seeking to expand the scope of Bill C-21, allowing extensive amendments to be heard by the Standing Committee on Public Safety while limiting debate time for those same amendments.

The motion proposes a maximum of 20 minutes for each amendment's debate and two days for the entire package of over 140 proposed amendments. This would result in a total of 25 hours of debate on the largest gun ban in Canadian history.

The motion was not passed today due to a CPC filibuster led by Public Safety critic Raquel Dancho. However, prior to the filibuster, there were discussions in the House providing insights into party stances on the issue.

Please note that the names of all MPs who spoke in support of C-21 and the motion are linked to the CPC riding association in their respective areas. If they are your MP, and you are interested in volunteering to help unseat them in the next election, please contact them.

Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, introduced the bill. During her speech, she awkwardly referred to double-barreled shotguns as a risk to women and became emotional while reading a letter from a survivor of the Danforth shooting. The letter acknowledged that the gun used in the Danforth incident was stolen, but it highlighted the issue of its legal import. This led to later questions from CPC MPs regarding the Liberal's potential intention to ban all firearms.

Damoff's reply dismissed the notion as ludicrous, displaying a lack of self-awareness. Recently attempted amendments G-4 and G-46 were withdrawn due to their far-reaching implications beyond the government's intent, potentially resulting in a ban on thousands more firearms than expected.

An interesting exchange occurred between Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Damoff regarding the SKS rifle used by assailants in May's riding during a bank robbery preceding a police ambush. May inquired if the SKS rifle would be prohibited by the proposed amendments, and Damoff's response indicated that although the SKS rifle is not covered by the current definition, it is one of the firearms the government expects the reconstituted Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee (CFAC) to examine. Minister Marco Mendicino's previous comment about reconstituting CFAC and prohibiting firearms based on their recommendations implies a hint that the Liberals may seek to prohibit the SKS.

Surprisingly, the Bloc's Public Safety Critic Kristina Michaud appeared to be against the motion, criticizing the Liberal's time management on C-21. She highlighted the historical timeline, with C-21 introduced nearly a year ago and progressing with fits and starts. Michaud argued that it is nonsensical for the Liberals to introduce over 140 amendments to their own year-old bill and then demand quick expediency. However, she has since taken to social media, urging the Minister to quickly constitute CFAC so that her party can confirm the Liberal's intent to ban "military-style assault firearms" by decree.

Meanwhile, almost as surprising was the NDP's sole contribution, provided by Alistair MacGregor. Previously praised for his comprehensive defense of airsoft, IPSC, and licensed gun owners in his previous role on SECU, he signaled the NDP's support for the motion to limit debate. MacGregor stated that the motion's condensed timeline offered sufficient opportunity for reasonable debate and expressed his preference for SECU to focus on other pending bills while C-21 remains under review. Known for his impassioned speech in defense of his gun-owning constituents, MacGregor has defended his stance on social media, asserting that he firmly believes 25 hours is more than adequate for debating these amendments.

The motion will likely reappear on future Order Papers, allowing for further debate and an anticipated vote.