cbcnews.ca.
WE ARE STANDING BY FOR THE 
PRIME MINISTER'S DAILY BRIEFING.
TODAY, NOT EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON 
COVID-19, WHICH IS WHAT HE HAS 
USUALLY BEEN DOING AT THIS TIME 
OF DAY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL 
WEEKS.
THIS WEEK, THOUGH, HE AND 
SEVERAL MINISTERS, INCLUDING 
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, WILL 
BE SPEAKING YET AGAIN FROM THE 
WEST BLOCK OF PARLIAMENT HILL 
AND, AGAIN, NOT FROM HIS 
COTTAGE, RIDEAU COTTAGE, AS HE 
HAS BEEN DOING.
THERE IS ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT 
EXPECTED TODAY.
THIS ONE ON GUNS.
SPECIFICALLY NEW RESTRICTIONS 
TO BAN CERTAIN MAKES AND MODELS 
OF WEAPONS WITH SOME SPECIFIC 
CHARACTERISTICS, MILITARY-STYLE 
OR ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS.
I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WE'LL 
HAVE FULL COVERAGE OF THAT FOR 
YOU.
BUT THIS TIME EACH DAY, AGAIN 
UNTIL JUST RECENTLY THIS HAS 
BEEN REALLY ABOUT THE PANDEMIC 
AND PUBLIC HEALTH BRIEFINGS.
SO THAT IS WHY WE'VE BEEN 
CARRYING IT IN THIS WAY.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOU 
KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE PANDEMIC 
AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT IN YOUR 
COMMUNITY.
BUT WE WILL DELVE INTO THIS 
SHIFT FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S 
FOCUS TODAY WITH OUR REPORTERS 
AND WE'LL ALSO GET SOME 
OPPOSITION REACTION FROM ANDREW 
SCHEER AS SOON AS THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS DONE SPEAKING.
SO, I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES.
CBC'S CATHERINE CULLEN AND THE 
HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS", 
VASSY KAPELOS, TO HELP US SET 
THIS UP.
A BIT OF A CHANGE TODAY FOR THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
AND I WANT TO BE REALLY 
TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE 
HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS BECAUSE 
OBVIOUSLY THE ANNOUNCEMENTS 
HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY ABOUT 
COVID-19 AND THERE IS A HUGE 
IMPORTANCE TO PEOPLE GETTING 
THAT INFORMATION.
NOT TO DIMINISH WHAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER AND THE GOVERNMENT 
MIGHT BE ANNOUNCING TODAY.
BUT THIS IS A DISTINCT CHANGE 
IN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF 
POLICY THAT THEY'RE ANNOUNCING.
IT IS ONE THAT THEY PROMISED 
DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN 
AND IT'S ONE THAT THEY SAID 
THEY INTENDED TO BRING BEFORE 
THE PANDEMIC STARTED.
AND NOW PERHAPS PUSHED FASTER 
BECAUSE OF THE SHOOTING IN NOVA 
SCOTIA.
THEY ARE DOING THAT TODAY.
VASSY, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE 
SHOULD EXPECT BASED ON SOME OF 
THE REPORTING THAT WE HAVE DONE 
ALREADY THIS WEEK.
>> Vassy: YEAH.
IT IS FORM SET THAT BACKDROP AS 
YOU'VE DONE, THOUGH, ROSEY.
WHILE THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE IN 
POLICY, ALL WE'VE BEEN HEARING 
ABOUT, AS YOU POINT OUT, IS 
COVID-19 AND POLICIES RELATED 
TO THAT.
THIS IS THE FIRST SHIFT AWAY 
FROM IT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THE 
GOVERNMENT -- ACTUALLY THE 
LIBERALS STARTED TALKING ABOUT 
WELL BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN AND 
ACTUALLY WAS ASKED TO DO OR TO 
ACT ON BY VARIOUS MUNICIPAL 
LEADERS.
I'M THINKING, FOR EXAMPLE, 
VALERIE PLANTE, THE MAYOR OF 
MONTREAL AS WELL AS JOHN TORY T 
MAYOR OF TORONTO.
THAT HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO, 
FOLLOWING PRETTY VIOLENT 
INCIDENTS IN BOTH QUEBEC BUT 
ALSO IN TORONTO.
THE GOVERNMENT THEN CONDUCTED A 
SERIES OF CONSULTATIONS, WHICH 
WRAPPED UP A FULL YEAR AGO.
FROM THAT POINT ON, THEY 
PROMISE SOME ACTION ON GUN 
CONTROL.
THEY GOT MORE SPECIFIC IN THE 
CAMPAIGN.
THEY THEN, YOU KNOW, 
REANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE 
GOING TO DO THE THINGS THAT 
THEY DID IN THE CAMPAIGN TOWARD 
THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE PRIME MINISTER STARTED 
GETTING QUESTIONS ON THIS AGAIN 
FOLLOWING WHAT HAPPENED IN NOVA 
SCOTIA.
HE THEN, TOWARDS THE END OF 
LAST WEEK, I THINK, SAID WELL 
IF WE HAVE SOME COOPERATION 
WITH THE OPPOSITION PARTIES OR 
MIGHT MOVE FAST, WE MIGHT END 
UP PROSBRO* DEUCING SOMETHING 
ON THIS OR DOING SOMETHING ON 
THIS.
HE DIDN'T DIRECTLY TIE THE TWO, 
BUT HE WAS AT THE TIME GETTING 
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS 
HAPPENING IN NOVA SCOTIA.
WHAT WE DO ANTICIPATE TODAY IS 
THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL 
INTRODUCE A LIST THAT DOESN'T 
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE 
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, THAT THEY 
CAN DO THROUGH THEIR OWN 
CABINET OF SPECIFIC 
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS 
THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO BAN.
WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE 
HFP-I THINK TWO THINGS I'M 
WATCHING FOR.
FIRST OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE 
"GLOBE AND MAIL" ARE REPORTING 
THAT THOUGH THEY PROMISE ADD 
FULL BUYBACK PROGRAMME FOR 
THOSE RESTRICTED WEAPONS IN THE 
CAMPAIGN THAT IT INSTEAD WILL 
NOT BE A FULL BUYBACK PROGRAMME.
AND IN FACT, IF YOU OWN ONE OF 
THEM, ONE OF THOSE RESTRICTED 
WEAPONS, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO 
KEEP THEM UNDER SORT OF 
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE 
CONDITIONS ARE.
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT 
PLAYS OUT BECAUSE THAT 
CERTAINLY WILL ANGER SOME OF 
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING 
FOR MORE SEVERE GUN CONTROL.
BUT MIGHT ALSO APPEASE PEOPLE 
WHO WERE WORRIED ABOUT NEW 
RESTRICTIONS, UNFAIRLY OR 
UNDULLY IMPACTING LAW-ABIDING 
GUN OWNERS.
THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS THE 
TIMING AND IT IS WORTH 
QUESTIONING.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IN NOVA 
SCOTIA WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE 
RCMP SO FAR IS OBVIOUSLY THE 
GUNMEN HAD A STRONG ARSENAL OF 
VARIOUS WEAPONS.
BUT WE'RE TOLD THAT HE HAD NO 
LICENSE FOR THEM AND THAT, IN 
FACT, MOST OF THEM, OTHER THAN 
ONE, CAME ILLEGALLY FROM THE 
UNITED STATES.
WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS 
ABOUT THAT ARSENAL.
WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT 
HOW HE OBTAINED THEM.
BUT THAT IS THE INFORMATION WE  
HAVE SO FAR.
WHICH, YOU KNOW, ALSO PROMPTS 
THE QUESTION, EVEN IF YOU ARE 
GOING TO RESTRICT THESE WEAPONS 
THAT MAY NOT ACTUALLY HAVE MADE 
A DIFFERENCE IN NOVA SCOTIA.
BUT I'M KEEN TO SEE HOW THE 
PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS THE 
TIMING OF THIS, THE PIVOT AWAY 
FROM THE COVID-19 RELATED 
POLICY.
>> Rosemary: I THINK IT IS ALSO 
WORTH MENTIONING SOME OTHER 
REPORTING THAT OUR COLLEAGUE, 
J.P. TASKER DID AROUND THE 
PREVIOUS PIECE OF GUN CONTROL 
LEGISLATION, BILL C-71, WHICH 
WAS PASSED THROUGH LEGISLATION 
IN PARLIAMENT LAST YEAR.
BUT THEN HAD TO BE ENACTED IN 
CERTAIN WAYS TO PASS INTO LAW.
AND NOT EVERYTHING HAPPENED 
UNDER THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT IT 
WAS, IN PART, BECAUSE AN 
ELECTION GOT IN THE WAY AND 
THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF TIMING 
ISSUES.
THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT THEY 
DIDN'T EVEN FINISH THE FIRST 
PART OF GUN CONTROL THAT THEY 
HAD ACTUALLY LEGISLATED.
THEY DIDN'T PUT ALL OF THOSE 
FACTORS, THOSE PIECES IN PLACE 
BEFORE.
SO, IT WILL BE INTERESTING AS 
WELL TO SEE WHETHER THERE'S A 
COMMITMENT TODAY TO FINISH UP 
BILL C-71.
I'LL ALSO JUST MENTION, BEFORE 
I BRING IN CATHERINE, THAT THE 
PRIME MINISTER IS ALSO 
SCHEDULED TO SPEAK WITH THE 
PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND 
TODAY WHO, OF COURSE, MOVED 
VERY QUICKLY ON GUN CONTROL 
AFTER A SHOOTING TOOK 51 LIVES 
IN TWO MOSQUES IN NEW ZEALAND.
SO, THE PRESSURE TO ACT ON 
POLICY, WHETHER IT EXISTED 
BEFORE OR NOT, IT IS FAIRLY 
NORMAL, I THINK, THAT 
POLITICIANS ARE CALLED ON TO 
ACT IN THE WAKE OF GUN CRIMES, 
CATHERINE.
THAT IS SORT OF WHAT HAPPENS.
WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING THAT 
YOU PROMISED BEFORE OR NOT, 
THERE IS USUALLY AN ADDITIONAL 
PUSH TO SEE SOME SORT OF CHANGE 
WITH GUN CONTROL AFTER A 
TRAGEDY LIKE WE SAW IN NOVA 
SCOTIA.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
AND PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS 
YOU MENTIONED BECAUSE OUR 
COLLEAGUES IN RADIO-CANADA 
OBTAINED A LIST OF THE FIREARMS 
THAT THEY BELIEVE ARE GOING TO 
BE BANNED AND THE COME THAT 
THEY LOOKED AT ACTUALLY DOES 
LINK THE WEAPONS THAT WILL BE 
BANNED TO VARIOUS SHOOTINGS.
SANDY HOOK, NEW ZEALAND, THE 
MONCTON SHOOTING, LAS VEGAS 
SHOOTING, DAWSON COLLEGE 
SHOOTING.
LE WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE IT'S 
CLEAR THAT THE RATIONALE THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT PRESENTS TODAY 
WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY 
MADE THESE CHOICES, SOME OF THE 
FEELINGS IN THE WAKE OF THESE 
SHOOTINGS WILL COME INTO IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO 
SEE HOW THEY TALK ABOUT THAT 
BUYBACK PROGRAMME.
IT DOES EXPLICITLY SAY IN THE 
LIBERAL CAMPAIGN MATERIAL THAT 
THEY ARE GOING TO BE 
INTRODUCING A BUYBACK PROGRAMME 
FOR ALL MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT 
RIFLES LEGALLY PURCHASED IN 
CANADA.
AND AS THE GLOBE'S REPORTING 
DOES POINT OUT, IT PUTS THEM IN 
A POSITION WHERE PEOPLE IN 
FAVOUR OF FIRE ARMS WILL NOT BE 
HAPPY WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN 
IN WAYS AND WE'RE SEEING 
CRITICISM ABOUT THE TIMING OF 
THIS AND WHATNOT.
THEY ARE HAPPY TO NOT SEE A 
FULL BUYBACK PROGRAMME.
IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO 
SEE WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL 
RATIONALE THE GOVERNMENT OFFERS 
FOR THAT.
>> Rosemary: SO WAIT TO SEE IF 
THEY DO, INDEED, CONFIRM THE 
GLOBE'S REPORTING THERE.
THE COST OF THE BUYBACK 
PROGRAMME HAD BEEN SLATED AT 
ABOUT $250 MILLION.
ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT IT 
COULD BE MUCH, MUCH HIGHER 
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF 
WEAPONS IN THAT LIST THAT LOUIS 
GOT.
IT DOES GIVE THE ESTIMATED 
NUMBER OF WEAPONS THAT EXIST IN 
THIS COUNTRY.
OK.
I'M GOING TO STOP JUST FOR A 
MOMENT, IF I CAN, TO TURN TO 
OTHER NEWS BEFORE THIS BRIEFING 
GETS UNDER WAY IN ABOUT SEVEN 
MINUTES' TIME BECAUSE I DID 
WANT TO GO BACK TO THE STORY 
THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WAS OUT 
TALKING ABOUT AT THIS TIME 
YESTERDAY AND THAT WE CONTINUE, 
OF COURSE, TO TRACK AS WELL.
AS SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT CONTINUE 
TO SCAN THE WATERS OFF GREECE 
FOR FIVE CANADIAN FORCES 
MEMBERS THAT ARE MISSING, STILL 
MISSING, AFTER THAT NATO 
HELICOPTER CRASH.
MURRAY BREWSTER IS A SENIOR 
DEFENCE WRITER WITH CBC NEWS 
AND HE IS WITH US AGAIN FROM 
OTTAWA.
WE DID GET THE NAMES AND SOME 
PICTURES TO PUT TO THE FIVE 
PEOPLE MISSING.
GIVE US THE LATEST ON HOW THAT 
SEARCH IS GOING.
>> Reporter: THE SEARCH IS 
CONTINUING, ROSEY.
AS FAR AS WE KNOW, AT THE 
MOMENT, THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING 
AT ISSUE FOUND IN TERMS OF 
PERHAPS SURVIVORS OR EVEN 
REMAINS OR EVEN IN TERMS OF THE 
EQUIPMENT OR ANY KIND OF DEBRIS.
IT'S NOT GOING PROBABLY GO ON 
TOO MUCH LONGER BECAUSE 
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE 
FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE IS ABOUT 
72 HOURS.
NOW THE WATER AND WEATHER 
CONDITIONS ARE CALM SO THAT 
DOES GIVE RESCUERS HOPE.
BUT 72 HOURS IS USUALLY THE 
MAXIMUM BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO 
TURN AND CALL IT A RECOVERY 
OPERATION.
NOW SOME OF THE OBSTACLES TO 
THE RECOVERY OPERATION WERE 
OUTLINED IN YESTERDAY'S 
BRIEFING BY THE CHIEF OF THE 
DEFENCE STAFF AND THAT IS 
ESSENTIALLY SOME OF THE 
WRECKAGE HAS BEEN SPOTTED 
PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 3,000 METRES 
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
AND IT IS A RATHER LARGE DEBRIS 
FIELD.
SO, THAT IS GOING TO MAKE IT 
VERY COMPLICATE FOR ANY 
RECOVERY OPERATION TO TAKE 
PLACE.
WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING 
TO HAVE TO CALL IN SOME EXTRA 
HELP FROM ALLIES, IT IS AN OPEN 
QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
LAST NIGHT I HAD A CONVERSATION 
WITH HAJIT SAJJAN AND HE IS 
SAYING THAT CALLING IN ALL 
ALLIES WITH DEEP DIVING 
CAPABILITY ARE STILL ON THE 
TABLE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'LL 
WATCH FOR IN THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S BRIEFING TODAY.
>> Rosemary: JUST ANOTHER 
QUESTION ABOUT TRYING TO 
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.
I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE THE 
VOICE DATA RECORDER AND ANOTHER 
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT THEY 
ALREADY MANAGED TO RECOVER.
BEYOND RECOVERING THE BODIES, 
THE SOULS THAT WERE LOST.
HOW IMPORTANT WOULD BE ANY 
DEBRIS IN TERMS OF GIVING US A 
SENSE OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?
>> Reporter: IT IS VERY 
IMPORTANT BECAUSE, IN MOST 
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS AND 
CRASHES, THE INVESTIGATORS TRY 
TO ESSENTIALLY RE-ASSEMBLE 
AIRCRAFT AND THAT TELLS THEM AN 
AWFUL LOT BECAUSE IT WOULD TELL 
THEM ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, GIVE 
YOU AN IDEA OF THE SPEED OF THE 
IMPACT.
IT WOULD GIVE THEM -- IF THERE 
IS A PART MISSING OR IN SOME 
PARTICULAR WAY NOT RELATED TO 
THE IMPACT.
THAT COULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT 
WHETHER IT WAS A MECHANICAL 
FAILURE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM 
TO COLLECT AS MUCH OF THE 
AIRCRAFT AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.
BEFORE DETERMINING PRECISELY 
WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Rosemary: OK.
MURRAY BREWSTER, THANK YOU FOR 
ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU IF YOU 
HAVE MORE UPDATES FOR US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO BACK TO MY COLLEAGUES.
VASSY KAPELOS AND CATHERINE 
CULLEN, AS WE WAIT FOR THE 
PRIME MINISTER AND A SLEW OF 
MINISTERS TO COME IN TODAY TO 
SPEAK TO US, NOT ABOUT THE 
PANDEMIC RESPONSE, BUT A 
RESPONSE OF A DIFFERENT KIND 
AND THAT IS AROUND GUN CONTROL 
MEASURES.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE AS 
WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER 
TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER 
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HAPPENED 
EARLIER TODAY AT 9:30 WITH THE 
FINANCE MINISTER AND THE 
GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF CANADA, 
STEVEN POLOZ, AND THAT WAS THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW 
GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF CANADA, 
TIFF MACLIN WHO WILL BE IN 
PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE.
AND WHILE HE MAY NOT BE A 
FAMILIAR FACE TO EVERYBODY JUST 
NOW, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN AT 
THE BANK OF CANADA AND LEFT TO 
BECOME A DEAN AT THE BUSINESS 
SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF 
TORONTO.
AND THIS IS OF PARTICULAR 
IMPORTANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT 
NOW, I THINK, BECAUSE OF THE 
ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT IS ON 
THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT WE'RE 
DEALINGING WITH NOW.
AND HOW IMPORTANT THE BANK'S 
MONETARY POLICY HAS BEEN TO TRY 
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE COME OUT 
OF IT WITH SOME CHANCE OF 
SUCCESS SO IT IS GOOD TO KNOW 
WHO THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ONCE 
MR. POLOZ LEAVES AND GOOD TO 
KNOW THAT HE ACTUALLY DIDN'T 
WANT TO STAY ON AND THAT IS WHY 
I WANTED TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT 
OF TIME ON IT, VASSY.
HE DOES HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH 
FINANCIAL CRISES AND CERTAINLY 
WAS ASKED SOME OF THOSE 
QUESTIONS TODAY, TOO.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
HE WAS ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS 
ABOUT THE CURRENT CRISIS AND 
HOW DEEP IT IS AND HE 
DEFINITELY WENT INTO SOME 
DETAIL WHY HE BELIEVED IT WAS 
UNPRECEDENTED AND, THEREFORE, 
WHY THE RESPONSE HAS TO BE 
UNPRECEDENTED AS WELL.
HE SPENT DECADES AT THE BANK OF 
CANADA SO HE IS NOT A STRANGER 
TO THE ORGANIZATION BUT HE 
STEPPED AWAY TO BECOME DEAN OF 
THE ROTTMAN SCHOOL OF 
MANAGEMENT IN TORONTO.
HE SERVED AS THE DEPUTY 
GOVERNOR BUT WAS PASSED OVER IN 
2013 FOR STEPHEN POLOZ.
I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT 
TO POINT OUT IT'S ALMOST 
DIFFERENT TIMES.
THE MONETARY POLICY OF THE BANK 
OF CANADA, MOST ESPECIALLY IN 
TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, HAS 
PROVEN TO BE OBVIOUSLY 
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST 
FEW MONTHS A SORT OF ALMOST 
UNIQUE WAY OF PRESENTING THAT 
SORT OF FIX AND ALONGSIDE THE 
FINANCE MINISTER.
WE'VE SEEN A SERIES OF PRESS 
CONFERENCES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE 
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CRISIS IS 
ACKNOWLEDGED BY BOTH OF THEM, 
BOTH STEPHEN POLOZ AND BILL 
MORNEAU, SITTING SIDE BY SIDE 
AND EACH ROLLS OUT WHAT THE 
POLICY WILL BE TO TRY AND 
BRIDGE THE GAP OR RECTIFY THE 
DAMAGE THAT'S BEING DONE OR 
WILL BE DONE.
AND SO THIS JOB THAT HE IS 
TAKING ON RIGHT NOW IS 
IMPORTANT IN THE BEST OF TIMES 
AND IN THE WORST OF TIMES.
BUT IN THE EXTRA, EXTRA WORST 
OF TIMES THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT 
NOW --
[LAUGHTER]
QUICKLY, IT IS EVEN MORE 
SIGNIFICANT.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE TALK 
ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE 
MAGNITUDE OF THE CRISIS, THE 
MAGNITUDE OF THE RESPONSE, WE 
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT FORM 
THAT TAKES AS FAR AS THE 
MONETARY POLICY IS CONCERNED.
BUT WE CAN EXPECT IT TO BE 
SIGNIFICANT IN AN ONGOING WAY.
AND THAT IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT 
IN THE ACUTE TIME WE'RE IN 
RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE FEELING 
IT SO DEEPLY, BUT ALSO IN THE 
RECOVERY.
SO STEPHEN POLOZ HAS PROVIDED A 
PRESCRIPTION RIGHT NOW FOR THE 
ACUTE PAIN WE'RE FEELING.
BUT MR. MACKLEM WILL BE 
PROVIDING A PRESCRIPTION FOR 
RIPING THE BAND-AID OFF AND 
TRYING TO HEAL THE WOUND.
AND THAT WILL BE VERY 
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT MIGHT 
DIFFER FROM THE DIFFERENT SET 
OF POLICIES THAT HAVE PUT FORTH 
OR WHAT HE MEANS WHEN HE SAYS 
UNPRECEDENTED.
>> Rosemary: AND RIGHT NOW THE 
BANK HAS RUN OUT OF OPTIONS, 
FRANKLY N TERMS OF MONETARY 
POLICIES AND THE NEXT OPTIONS 
TO GO INTO NEGATIVE INTEREST 
RATES, WHAT THEY WERE ALSO 
ASKED ABOUT TODAY AND MR. 
MACKLEM AS WELL SAID WE'LL DO 
WHAT IS NEEDED.
IT'S ALSO WORTH KNOWING ABOUT 
HIM THAT HE WAS, I AM TOLD, ONE 
OF FOUR CANADIANS THAT WERE 
INSIDE THE ROOM WHEN THE GROUP 
OF SEVEN FINANCE MINISTERS MADE 
THE DECISION BACK IN THE FALL 
OF 2008 TO FULLY BACK THE 
BANKING SYSTEM, WHICH WAS ON 
THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE IN THE 
WORLD AS WE KNOW.
AND MR. MACKLEM WAS THERE WITH 
JIM FLAHERTY AT THE TIME AS 
THAT DECISION WAS MADE, AS THEY 
WERE DISCUSSING WHAT THAT WOULD 
MEAN AND HOW THAT BACKING BY 
BANKS AROUND THE WORLD WOULD 
TRY TO, YOU KNOW, MANAGE THE 
DAMAGE THAT ENDED UP BEING 
SUBSTANTIVE.
BUT THIS IS ON A TOTALLY 
DIFFERENT LEVEL.
AND I DO THINK IT'S GOOD FOR 
PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT HE HAS THAT 
KIND OF EXPERIENCE WITH A 
FINANCIAL CRISIS AS WELL.
HE DOES, THOUGH, AND I THINK 
WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT A MINUTE, 
CATHERINE, IT DOES MEAN THAT 
SOMEONE ELSE AT THE BANK DIDN'T 
GET THE JOB AND THAT IS A 
LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE TO 
SOME, TOO.
>> Reporter: IT'S SO RELEVANT 
FOR THE AUDIENCE IN TERMS OF 
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
HE MADE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN 
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008.
HE SAID THAT WAS A CRISIS 
WITHIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A 
MEDICAL CRISIS AND HE HAD 
SOMETHING QUITE POINTED TO SAY 
ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH I.
HE SAID YOU NEED TO OVERWHELM A 
CRISIS AND THINK BEYOND THE 
NORMAL RESPONSES AND RESTORE 
CONFIDENCE AND TALKED ABOUT THE 
ROLE THAT THE BANK CAN PLAY 
GOING FORWARD, TRYING TO BE AS 
TRANSPARENT WITH CANADIANS AS 
POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK 
MIGHT HAPPEN.
BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED, JUST AS WE 
HEAR FROM PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS EVERY DAY, THERE IS 
SO MUCH THAT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS 
TIME, THAT THE BANK WILL HAVE 
TO LOOK AT A MULTITUDE OF 
SCENARIOS AND HE'S CALLING FOR 
BOLD ACTION IN THE FACE OF 
THIS, PRAISING WHAT THE BANK 
AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE 
ALREADY DONE.
>> Rosemary: OK.
APPRECIATE THAT.
AND CAROLYN WILKINS IS THE 
CENTRAL BANK'S SENIOR DEPUTY 
GOVERNOR AND SHE IS ONE OF THE 
PEOPLE HA THAT WE THOUGHT MIGHT 
GET THE JOB.
SHE WILL REMAIN IN HER POSITION 
AND SHE HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO 
SOME OF THE MONETARY DECISIONS 
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE 
LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN MADE VERY 
QUICKLY.
HERE'S THE PRIME MINISTER WITH 
CABINET MINISTERS.
EXPECTING TODAY A DIFFERENT 
KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT GUN 
POLICY FROM MR. TRUDEAU.
HERE WE GO.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: TIFF 
MACKLEM AS THE NEXT  GOVERNOR 
OF THE BANK OF CANADA.
HE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN 
THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND 
RISK MANAGEMENT.
WITH HIS APPOINTMENT, THE BANK 
OF CANADA WILL BE 
WELL-POSITIONED TO HELP WITH 
THE ECONOMIC RESPONSE AND 
EVENTUAL RECOVERY FROM THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT MAY 1 
MARKS THE BEGINNING OF ASIAN 
AND JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE SEEN A 
RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN SENTMENT 
LATELY AND, THIS WEEK, TWO MORE 
ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS TOOK 
PLACE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE WHO 
WE ARE AT ALL TIMES AND NOT 
GIVES IN TO HATRED OR FEAR.
WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH, CANADIANS 
COME TOGETHER.
THAT IS WHO WE ARE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH].
>> Interpreter: ON DECEMBER 6, 
1989, I WAS IN MONTREAL IN 
CEGEP.
AT THE BOTH OF THE HILL TO 
POLYTECHNIQUE.
I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT I WAS 
STUDYING THAT DAY, BUT I WILL 
NEVER FORGET THE MOMENT WHEN I 
HEARD THE FIRST REPORTS OF A 
SHOOING AT POLYTECHNIQUE.
AT FIRST, I WAS SHOCKED.
I WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND I 
COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH AN 
ACT OF VIOLENCE TOWARD WOMEN 
COULD HAPPEN IN A COUNTRY SUCH 
AS OURS.
IN A SOCIETY SUCH AS OURS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
EVERY CANADIAN HAS THEIR 
VERSION OF THIS STORY.
EVERY ONE OF US REALISES THAT, 
EVEN IN CANADA, A MAN WITH A 
GUN COULD IR REVOCABLY ALTER 
OUR LIVES FOR THE WORSE.
WE REMEMBER HOW OUR SENSE OF 
SAFETY WAS SHAKEN.
HOW OUR WORLD VIEW WAS CHANGED.
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE, 
MAYERTHORPE, DAWSON COLLEGE, 
MONCTON, LA LOCHE, THE 
DANFORTH, QUEBEC MOSQUES, 
FREDERICTON AND CUMBERLAND, 
COLCHESTER AND HANTS COUNTIES, 
NOVA SCOTIA.
THESE TRAGEDIES REVERBERATE 
STILL.
THEY SHAPE OUR IDENTITY.
THEY STAIN OUR CONSCIENCE.
THEY MAKE ADULTS OUT OF 
CHILDREN.
AND THE HEARTBREAKING TRUTH IS 
THEY'RE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN 
THAN THEY ONCE DID.
WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, MORE 
FAMILIES ARE RIPPED APART BY 
TRAGEDY.
MORE PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO 
EXPLAIN THE INEXPLICABLE TO 
THEIR KIDS AND MORE TEENAGERS 
ARE GROWING UP IN A WORLD WHERE 
GUN VIOLENCE IS NORMALIZED.
IT NEEDS TO STOP.
LAST WEEK, 22 CANADIANS WERE 
KILLED IN THE DEADLIEST RAMPAGE 
IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
THEY WERE NURSES AND TEACHERS, 
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND RCMP 
OFFICERS.
THEY WERE SOMEONE'S CHILD, 
SOMEONE'S BEST FRIEND, 
SOMEONE'S PARTNER.
THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE MORE 
THAN THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
CANADIANS DESERVE MORE THAN 
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: DURING THE LAST 
ELECTION, WE COMMITTED TO 
BANNING ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS 
AND WE PUT IN PLACE A PROGRAMME 
TO BUY BACK THESE WEAPONS.
WE ANNOUNCED OUR INTENTION TO 
WORK WITH THE PROVINCIAL AND 
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS IN 
ORDER TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES 
TO BAN HANDGUNS.
WE ALSO PROMISED TO TAKE OTHER 
MEASURES IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES.
IN OCTOBER, CANADIANS CONFIDED 
IN THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS A 
CLEAR MANDATE -- TO RESTRICT 
THE USE OF THESE WEAPONS IN 
CANADA.
AND WE INTEND TO MAINTAIN OUR 
ENGAGEMENT.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
TODAY FROM MILITARY-GRADE 
ASSAULT WEAPONS IN CANADA.
WE ARE BANNING 1500 MODELS AND 
VARIANTS OF THESE FIRE ARMS BY 
WAY OF REGS.
-- REGULATIONS.
THESE WEAPONS WERE DESIGNED FOR 
ONE PURPOSE, AND ONE PURPOSE 
ONLY -- TO KILL THE LARGEST 
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE 
SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME.
THERE IS NO USE AND NO PLACE 
FOR SUCH WEAPONS IN CANADA.
FOR MANY FAMILIES, INCLUDING 
MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, 
FIREARMS ARE PART OF TRADITIONS 
PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS 
AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF GUN 
OWNERS USE THEM SAFELY, 
RESPONSIBLY, AND IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH THE LAW, WHETHER IT BE FOR 
WORK, SPORTS SHOOTING, FOR 
COLLECTING OR FOR HUNTING.
BUT YOU DON'T NEED AN AR-15 TO 
BRING DOWN A DEER.
SO, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, IT 
IS NO LONGER PERMITTED TO BUY, 
SELL, TRANSPORT, IMPORT OR USE 
MILITARY GRADE ASSAULT WEAPONS 
IN THIS COUNTRY.
TO PROTECT LAW-ABIDING GUN 
OWNERS FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY 
UNTIL THEY CAN TAKE STEPS TO 
COMPLY WITH THIS NEW LAW, THERE 
WILL BE A TWO-YEAR AMNESTY 
PERIOD AND WE WILL LEGISLATE 
FAIR COMPENSATION.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO 
RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP OF 
MINISTER BLAIR ON THIS FILE.
TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE HAS BEEN 
A PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL 
PRIORITY OF HIS FOR DECADES.
HE'S DONE INCREDIBLE WORK TO 
MAKE THIS POLICY A REALITY AND 
WE'RE HERE TODAY, THANKS TO HIS 
LEADERSHIP AND TO THE 
LEADERSHIP OF PEOPLE LIKE HIM.
MERCI.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: TODAY WE ARE 
CLOSING THE MARKET ON 
MILITARY-GRADE ASSAULT WEAPONS 
IN CANADA.
WE ARE BANNING 1500 MODELS AND 
VARIANTS OF THIS TYPE OF 
FIREARM.
THESE WEAPONS WERE USED FOR ONE 
GOAL -- KILLING THE LARGEST 
AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
THEY HAVE NO USE AND NO PLACE 
HERE IN CANADA.
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, MANY 
PEOPLE USE FIRE ARMS LEGALLY 
AND RESPONSIBLY FINISH  -- FOR 
WORK OR FOR HUNTING BUT YOU 
DON'T NEED AN AR-15 IN ORDER TO 
SHOOT A DEER.
FROM THIS MOMENT ON, IT IS NO 
LONGER PERMITTED TO SELL, TO 
BUY, TO TRANSPORT, TO IMPORT OR 
TO USE MILITARY-GRADE ASSAULT 
WEAPONS IN CANADA.
IN ORDER TO PROTECT RESPONSIBLE 
OWNERS FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY.
THERE WILL BE A TWO-YEAR 
AMNESTY PERIOD SO THAT THEY CAN 
COMPLY TO THESE REGULATIONS.
WE HAVE THE INTENTION OF 
TABLING A BILL IN ORDER TO 
ENSURE FAIR COMPENSATION 
SOUTHERLY.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: AN 
ENTIRE GENERATION OF CANADIANS 
WILL REMEMBER WHERE THEY WERE 
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2020.
THEY WILL REMEMBER HOW THEIR 
SENSE OF SAFETY WAS SHAKEN.
HOW THEIR OUTLOOK ON THE WORLD 
WAS FOREVER CHANGED.
THEY WILL REMEMBER THE DAY THAT 
THEY LOST SOME OF THEIR 
INNOCENCE.
THIS CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY 
CANNOT BE REWRITTEN.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS UP TO 
US.
WE CAN STICK TO THOUGHTS AND 
PRAYERS ALONE OR WE CAN UNITE 
AS A COUNTRY AND PUT AN A END 
TO THIS.
WE CAN DECIDE, TOGETHER, THAT 
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BUILDS ON 
THE THINGS WE DID DURING OUR 
FIRST TERM.
IT'S THE NEXT STEP.
AND THERE IS MORE WORK AHEAD TO 
IMPLEMENT THIS AND PASS 
LEGISLATION TO FURTHER 
STRENGTHEN OUR LAWS.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH THE 
OTHER PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS AND 
I KNOW THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO 
WORK TOGETHER AND DO EVEN MORE 
TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
EVERY SINGLE CANADIAN WANTS TO 
SEE LESS GUN VIOLENCE AND SAFER 
COMMUNITIES.
SO TODAY, WE TAKE ANOTHER BIG 
STEP FORWARD.
MERCI BEAUCOUP.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PRIME 
MINISTER.
AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
BEFORE I BEGIN MY REMARKS, I'D 
LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES 
TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE THAT 
WERE LOST IN THE HELICOPTER 
CRASH OFF THE COAST OF GREECE 
ON WEDNESDAY.
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THEIR 
SERVICE AND THEIR SACRIFICE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR 
JOINING US HERE TODAY FOR WHAT 
I BELIEVE TO BE A VERY 
SIGNIFICANT AND YET SOLEMN 
OCCASION.
A FEW WEEKS AGO A, CANADA 
SUFFERED ITS WORST MASS 
SHOOTING IN THE COUNTRY'S 
HISTORY.
22 INNOCENT LIVES WERE LOST 
OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEKEND 
RAMPAGE ACROSS BEAUTIFUL 
COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT NOVA 
SCOTIA.
CANADIANS WERE SHOCKED AND THEY 
WERE HEARTBROKEN AND AS WE 
LEARNED THE IDENTITIES OF THE 
VICTIMS OF THESE TERRIBLE 
CRIMES, WE WERE REMINDED OF THE 
TRAGIC IMPACT THAT GUN VIOLENCE 
CAN HAVE ON ALL OF OUR 
COMMUNITIES, URBAN AND RURAL, 
FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST.
MOTHERS AND FATHERS, SONS AND 
DAUGHTERS, FRIENDS AND 
NEIGHBOURS WERE TAKEN FROM US, 
TERRIBLY VIOLENTLY AND FAR TOO 
SOON.
AND SADLY, GUN VIOLENCE IS NOT 
A NEW THING IN OUR SOCIETY, BUT 
IT'S MADE ALL THE MORE DEADLY 
WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF FIRE 
ARMS THAT ARE MORE POWERFUL 
THAN EVER BEFORE.
ASSAULT-STYLE FIRE ARMS, THOSE 
THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR 
HUNTING OR SPORT SHOOTING, THEY 
HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE 
PREVALENT IN OUR CANADIAN 
RETAIL MARKET.
AND FOR AS LONG AS THESE GUNS 
HAVE EXISTED, THEY HAVE BEEN 
CAPABLE OF INFLICTING 
TREMENDOUS DAMAGE WHEN THEY 
FALL INTO THE WRONG HANDS.
AND, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1989, 14 
WOMEN WERE MURDERED AT ECOLE 
POLYTECHNIQUE, A HORRIFIC ACT 
OF DEADLY MYSOGINY.
17 YEARS LATER, MONTREAL WAS 
SHAKEN YET AGAIN WITH THE 
SHOOTING AT DAWSON COLLEGE.
IN 2014, MONCTON WAS TERRORIZED 
BY A CRIMINAL THAT TOOK THE 
LIVES OF THREE RCMP OFFICERS.
AND THREE YEARS AGO, IN 
JANUARY, IN QUEBEC, A SHOOTER 
KILLED SIX INNOCENT MUSLIMS 
WHILE THEY WERE IN PRAYER.
MANY OF US HAVE VIVID AND 
TRAGIC MEMORIES OF EACH OF 
THESE EVENTS.
THEY HAD BECOME, SADLY A PART 
OF OUR HISTORY.
THESE TRAGIC MOMENTS WHEN 
INNOCENT WOMEN, WORSHIPPERS, 
POLICE OFFICERS AND INNOCENT 
CANADIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
HAVE BEEN KILLED BY EVIL PEOPLE 
WIELDING POWERFUL GUNS.
FOR DECADES, CHIEFS OF POLICE, 
ADVOCACY GROUPS, GRIEVING 
FAMILIES AND EVERYDAY CANADIANS 
HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A BAN OF 
THESE TYPES OF FIRE ARMS, GUNS 
THAT WERE DESIGNED FOR SOLDIERS 
TO KILL OTHER SOLDIERS, AND NOT 
FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
GUNS THAT BELONG ON A 
BATTLEFIELD AND NOT ON OUR 
STREETS.
GUNS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO KILL 
PEOPLE.
THEY WERE INTENDED IN THEIR 
PURPOSE TO KILL PEOPLE.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN USED IN 
CANADA TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE.
AND FOR DECADES, CANADIANS HAVE 
BEEN CALL ON SUCCESSIVE 
GOVERNMENTS FOR REFORM FOR 
STRONGER GUN CONTROL.
AND WE HAVE LISTENED.
AND TODAY WE ARE TAKING ACTION.
TODAY, AS THE PRIME MINISTER 
HAS SAID, WE ARE ANNOUNCING AN 
IMMEDIATE BAN ON OVER 1500 
MODELS OF ASSAULT-STYLE FIRE 
ARMS AND, EFFECTIVE 
IMMEDIATELY, THESE NEWLY BANNED 
FIREARMS CAN NOT BE LEGALLY 
USED, SOLD OR IMPORTED IN OUR 
COUNTRY.
AND AS OF TODAY, THE MARKET FOR 
ASSAULT WEAPONS IN CANADA IS 
CLOSED.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
AND WE ARE ENDING THE 
PROLIFERATION OF THESE WEAPONS 
AND THE MILITARYIZATION OF OUR 
SOCIETY.
FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD, THE 
NUMBER OF THESE GUNS WILL 
DECREASE IN CANADA.
WE HEARD MANY PEOPLE EXPRESS 
CONCERN ABOUT THE 
MILITARIZIZATION OF OUR POLICE 
AND THIS IS A DIRECT 
CONSEQUENCE OF MILITARIZIZATION 
OF SOCIETY AND CANADIANS 
DESTOEFSH LIVE IN A SOCIETY 
WHERE THEY CAN BE SAFE AND 
SECURE AND PEOPLE FROM COAST TO 
COAST HAVE BEEN CLEAR -- WE 
CANNOT RISK ANOTHER SHOOTING IN 
A SCHOOL OR A PLACE OF WORSHIP 
OR ANOTHER ATTACK ON POLICE 
OFFICERS OR ON WOMEN OR ON 
INNOCENT CANADIANS ANYWHERE IN 
THIS COUNTRY.
BANNING ASSAULT-STYLE FIRE ARMS 
WILL SAVE CANADIAN LIVES.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE MOMENT, IF I 
MAY, TO SPEAK TO THE 
LAW-ABIDING CANADIAN GUN OWNERS.
I KNOW FROM VERY MANY YEARS OF 
EXPERIENCE AS A POLICE OFFICER, 
THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY 
OF GUN OWNERS IN THIS COUNTRY 
ARE LAW-ABIDING.
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE.
THEY ARE CONSCIENTIOUS.
THEY ACQUIRED THEIR WEAPONS 
LEGALLY.
THEY STORE THEM SECURELY AND 
THEY USE THEM SAFELY.
THEY RESPECT OUR LAWS AND WE 
RESPECT THEM.
I WANT TO ASSURE HUNTERS AND 
FARMER AND TARGET SHOOTERS IN 
THIS COUNTRY, THAT NOTHING THAT 
WE ARE DOING TODAY OR WILL DO 
IN THE FUTURE IS INTENDED TO 
INTERFERE WITH THIS LAWFUL, 
RESPONSIBLE AND LEGAL ACTIVITY.
HOWEVER, WE ARE TODAY ENDING 
THE AVAILABILITY OF WEAPONS 
THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR 
HUNTING OR FOR TARGET SHOOTING.
THEY WERE RATHER DESIGNED FOR 
SOLDIERS TO KILL OTHER SOLDIERS.
AND WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT 
SOME MAY FEEL THAT THESE 
WEAPONS HAVE RECREATIONAL 
VALUE, THE TRAGIC REALITY IS 
THAT THESE WEAPONS WERE 
DESIGNED TO KILL PEOPLE AND 
HAVE BEEN USED TO KILL INNOCENT 
CANADIANS.
PUBLIC SAFETY MUST ALWAYS BE 
OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
AND THESE POWERFUL FIRE ARMS 
BECOME DEADLY WEAPONS WHEN THEY 
FALL INTO THE WRONG HANDS.
PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE MUST COME 
ABOVE ALL ELSE.
THESE GUNS HAVE NO LEGITIMATE 
CIVILIAN PURPOSE.
THEY DON'T BELONG IN OUR 
COMMUNITIES.
AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT THE 
BANNING OF THESE ASSAULT 
WEAPONS AN IMPORTANT STEP, BUT 
LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE 
KNOW THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO 
DO.
WE WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION 
AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO 
FULFILL OUR COMMITMENTS TO 
CANADIANS, TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF 
THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS BY 
STRENGTHENING OUR STORAGE LAWS, 
BY PREVENTING GUN TRAFFICKING 
AND SMUGGLING.
WE WILL BRING IN GREATER 
CONTROL OF AMMUNITIONS AND 
MAGAZINE CAPACITIES AND PERHAPS 
MOST IMPORTANTLY, REGULAR FLAG 
LAWS THAT ALLOW LAW 
ENFORCEMENTS TO REMOVE FIRE 
ARMS FROM DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, 
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T 
BECOME DEADLY.
WE WILL EMPOWER VICTIMS, 
COMMUNITIES, DOCTORS, FAMILIES.
WE WILL EMPOWER CANADIANS TO 
ENTER THEIR SITUATION SAFE.
AND WHERE THERE IS FIREARMS IN 
A SITUATION THAT COULD BE 
DANGEROUS, WE KNOW THAT 
SITUATION CAN BECOME DEADLY.
AND RED FLAG LAWS WILL EMPOWER 
US TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
WE WILL DO ALL OF THESE THINGS 
AND WE WILL KEEP WORKING HARD 
TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER FOR 
OUR KIDS AND GRAND KIDS.
I WOULD REMIND US ALL THAT, 
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE 
HAVE TAKEN REAL MEASURES TO 
STRENGTHEN GUN CONTROL.
WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $327 
MILLION TO FIGHT GUN AND GANG 
VIOLENCE THAT MEANT, FOR 
EXAMPLE, MORE RESOURCES FOR 
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO 
INVESTIGATE GANG-RELATED 
ACTIVITY.
IT MEANT FUNDING FOR PROJECTS, 
WHICH WERE FOCUSED ON KEEPING 
KIDS IN SCHOOL, GIVING SUPPORT 
TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING 
AND PREVENTING GANG RECRUITMENT.
WE BROUGHT IN BILL C-71 WHICH 
STRENGTHENS BACKGROUND CHECKS 
TO MAKE SURE THAT GUNS DON'T 
END UP IN THE WRONG HANDS AND 
LAST YEAR, IN THE FALL, WE 
CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE TO DO 
MORE.
TODAY, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON 
OUR PROMISE AND OUR PLAN TO 
DELIVER SAFER STREETS AND 
STRONGER COMMUNITIES FOR 
GENERATIONS TO COME.
BY TAKING ACTION TODAY, WE CAN 
GIVE OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDKIDS 
A BETTER CHANCE AT A BRIGHTER, 
SAFER TOMORROW.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
>> [SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: GOOD MORNING.
I'M PROUD TO BE HERE WITH MY 
COLLEAGUES AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER TO TALK ABOUT 
IMPORTANT MEASURES THAT WE ARE 
PUTTING IN PLACE.
WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF 
CRIMES COMMITTED IN FIRE ARMS 
HAVE INCREASED OVER THE PAST 
YEARS.
IN 2017, THERE WERE 2500 
ADDITIONAL VICTIMS.
>> TOO OFTEN WHERE WEAPONS THAT 
WERE DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE 
BATTLEFIELD HAVE MADE THEIR WAY 
INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE 
BEEN USED TO KILL AS MANY 
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, AS QUICKLY 
AS POSSIBLE.
MINISTER BLAIR MENTIONED TRAGIC 
INCIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE MIND 
OF ALL CANADIANS.
MOTHERS AND FATHERS, CHILDREN, 
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS WHOSE 
LIVES WERE TAKEN IN SENSELESS 
ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: AS A MONTREALER 
AND ALSO AS A FATHER OF TWO 
DAUGHTERS, AND FAMILY MEMBER OF 
A FORMER CEGEP STUDENT, I CAN 
TELL YOU THAT THE SHOOTING OF 
14 YOUNG WOMEN IN POLYTECHNIQUE 
IS VERY FRESH IN OUR COLLECTIVE 
MEMORY.
EVEN 30 YEARS LATER.
>> WE ALL REMEMBER ANASTASIA 
D'SOUZA WHOSE PROMISING YOUNG 
LIFE WAS TRAGICALLY CUT SHORT 
AT DAWSON COLLEGE.
FRENCH FRENCH 
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: WE SAW SADNESS 
AND TERROR AND THIS ALLOWED US 
TO HAVE A MORE STRICT 
REGULATION OF FIRE ARMS.
THE FIRE ARMS ACT PUT IN PLACE 
NEW REGULATIONS IN 1995.
>> IN 2019, CANADIANS GAVE US A 
CLEAR MANDATE TO ACT.
AS MINISTER BLAIR EXPLAINED, 
TODAY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD 
WITH THIS COMMITMENT BY 
ANNOUNCING AN IMMEDIATE 
PROHIBITION OF OVER 1500 MAKES 
AND MODELS OF MILITARY-STYLE 
FIRE ARMS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: THESE ARE 
MILITARY CALIBER, 
MILITARY-GRADE FIRE ARMS THAT 
WERE CREATED IN ORDER TO HAVE 
THE MOST VICTIMS AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
>> WE ARE, HOWEVER, TAKING 
REASONABLE STEPS TO PROVIDE 
CANADIANS WITH THE TIME AND 
GUIDANCE TO PROPERLY AND SAFELY 
DEACTIVATE OR REMOVE THESE 
ITEMS FROM THEIR POSSESSION.
TO DO THIS, WE ARE PUTTING IN 
PLACE AN AMNESTY ORDER UNDER 
THE CRIMINAL CODE.
BEGINNING TODAY AND EFFECTIVE 
UNTIL APRIL 30, 2022.
THIS AMNESTY PERIOD WILL GIVE A 
LAWFUL OWNER IN POSSESSION OF 
THESE NEWLY PROHIBITED FIRE 
ARMS A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO 
COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITHOUT 
FACING CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR 
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION.
BY THE END OF THIS AMNESTY 
PERIOD, ALL CANADIANS MUST BE 
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: THERE ARE CLEAR 
LINES ON WHAT IS ALLOWED AND 
NOT ALLOWED DURING THIS AMNESTY 
PERIOD.
>> ANYONE IN POSSESSION OF 
THESE NEWLY-PROHIBITED FIREARMS 
CAN NO LONGER USE THEM, EVEN 
DURING THE AMNESTY PERIOD.
SECONDLY, THESE FIRE ARMS 
CANNOT BE IMPORTED OR SOLD TO 
INDIVIDUALS IN CANADA.
THIRD, THESE FIRE ARMS CAN BE 
LEGALLY EXPORTED DURING THE 
TWO-YEAR TIMEFRAME WITH A VALID 
EXPORT PERMIT.
IN ADDITION, A BUSINESS OWNER 
MAY RETURN THE FIREARM TO ITS 
MANUFACTURER.
FINALLY, THESE FIRE ARMS MUST 
BE SAFELY STORED IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH THE LAW.
THEY CAN ONLY BE TRANSFERRED OR 
TRANSPORTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF 
DEACTIVATION, EXPORT WITH A 
PERMIT OR SURRENDER TO POLICE 
WITHOUT COMPENSATION.
OR IF THE PERSON IS NOT THE 
ONLY OWNER OF THE FIREARM, TO 
RETURN THE FIREARM TO ITS 
RIGHTFUL OWNER.
THERE WILL BE AN EXCEPTION FOR 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S EXERCISING 
HUNTING RIGHT, AS WELL AS THOSE 
WHO USE THE WEAPON TO HUNT OR 
FEED THEIR FAMILY.
THEY MAY CONTINUE USING 
FIREARMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY 
NONRESTRICTED FOR THESE 
PURPOSES UNTIL A SUITABLE 
REPLACEMENT CAN BE ACQUIRED.
WE ARE ASKING THAT NO ONE 
ATTEMPT TO SURRENDER THEIR 
FIREARM WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19 IS BEING 
PRACTICED.
AS I HAVE INDICATED, AT THE END 
OF THE AMNESTY PERIOD, ALL 
FIREARM OWNERS WILL HAVE TO BE 
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE 
PROHIBITION.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: THE CHARACTER 
OF THE NATION IS DEFINED BY HOW 
IT REACTS TO TRAGEDIES.
OUR COUNTRY IS MORE UNITED THAN 
EVER.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK 
TOGETHER.
THE MEASURES THAT WE ARE 
ANNOUNCING TODAY ARE BANNING 
THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPONS, 
WHICH REPRESENT THE MOST 
SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO CANADIAN 
COMMUNITIS CAN.
THAT IS WHAT WE PROMISED TO 
CANADIANS AND WE OWE IT TO THEM 
AND TO ALL OF THE VICTIMS WHO 
LOST THEIR LIVES TOO SOON.
THANK YOU.
>> Interpreter: HELLO, EVERYONE.
MR. PRIME MINISTER, COLLEAGUES 
CAN.
WE ARE ALL FIGHTING AGAINST 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
BUT WE HAD THE WORST SHOOTING 
IN OUR COUNTRY, 22 PEOPLE DIED 
AT THE HANDS OF A HEARTLESS 
GUNMAN.
CANADIANS SHARED THE BURDEN 
FELT BY OUR NEIGHBOURS IN NOVA 
SCOTIA AND WE UNDERSTAND THE 
IMPACT OF ARMED VIOLENCE IN OUR 
COMMUNITIS CAN.
THIS IS NOTHING NEW.
BUT WHAT IS NEW, HOWEVER, IS 
THAT THIS VIRUS IS MORE VIOLENT 
BECAUSE OF THE PROLIFERATION OF 
GUNS THAT ARE MORE VIOLENT AND 
MORE LETHAL.
THEY HAVE NO USE FOR GUNS OR 
SPORT.
THESE WEAPONS CAN KILL TOO MANY 
TOO QUICKLY.
IN '89, THERE WAS POLYTECHNIQUE 
SHOOTING.
IN 2006, DAWSON.
IN 2014, MONCTON.
AND ON JANUARY 22, 2017, THERE 
WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO KILLED SIX 
BROTHERS, FATHERS.
MOTIVE CAN CHANGE FROM ONE 
TRAGEDY TO ANOTHER.
THE CONTEXT CAN CHANGE.
THE TARGETS OF THESE KILLERS 
CAN CHANGE.
THEIR M.O. CAN CHANGE.
BUT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT 
REMAIN THE SAME.
THERE ARE ALWAYS INNOCENT 
VICTIMS WHO LEAVE BEHIND AN 
EMPTINESS THAT CANNOT BE FILLED 
IN THE  HEARTS OF THEIR LOVED 
ONES.
ALSO, WE CANNOT CHANGE THE FACT 
THAT THERE ARE WEAPONS THAT ARE 
MADE TO KILL AND THESE ARE 
WEAPONS THAT WE WILL BE BANNING 
TODAY.
CHIEFS OF POLICE, FAMILIES, 
CITIZENS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR 
PROHIBITION OF THESE WEAPONS 
THAT WERE CREATED FOR WARFARE 
AND NOT FOR CIVILIANS IN OUR 
COMMUNITIES.
TODAY WE ARE ACTING -- TODAY WE 
ARE ACTING FOR THE FUTURE.
WE ARE BANNING MORE THAN 1500 
TYPES OF MILITARY-GRADE ASSAULT 
WEAPONS.
TODAY MARKS THE END OF THE 
MARKET FOR THESE WEAPONS.
BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH 
THIS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
YOU KNOW THAT MOST GUN OWNERS 
IN CANADA ARE LAW ABIDING AND 
TAKE ALL THE MEASURES TO MAKE 
SURE THAT WEAPONS ARE USED AND 
KEPT SECURELY.
HOWEVER, THESE WEAPONS ARE 
DEADLY AND POSE TOO GREAT A 
RISK WHEN THEY FALL INTO THE 
HANDS OF WRONG PEOPLE AND THE 
SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS 
PARAMOUNT.
THE MEASURES WE ARE PUTING IN 
PLACE TODAY AND IT IS A PART OF 
A MEASURE TO REDUCE ARMED 
VIOLENCE IN CANADA.
WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE ON 
CONTRABAND OF THESE WEAPONS OF 
HANDGUNS.
WE NEED TO TAKE ON STREET GANGS 
AND INVEST IN PREVENTION AND WE 
NEED TO HAVE MORE EDUCATION, 
MORE SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH.
THE WORK HAS STARTED AND WE ARE 
GOING TO CONTINUE IT.
WE STARTED BY INVESTING $327 
MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS TO 
COUNTER GANG AND GUN VIOLENCE.
WE WILL BE ADOPTING C-71, THAT 
VERIFIES THE CRIMINAL HISTORY 
OF BUYERS TO MAKE SURE THAT 
WEAPONS DO NOT FALL INTO THE 
WRONG HANDS.
AND TODAY, WE ARE GOING ONE 
STEP FURTHER, ONE SIGNIFICANT 
STEP FURTHER, A HISTORIC STEP 
FURTHER THAT WILL SAVE LIVES 
AND MAKE OUR SOCIETY SAFER FOR 
ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I GREW UP ON A FARM IN NORTHERN 
ALBERTA.
WE HAD GUNS ON OUR FARM.
AND WE STILL DO.
AS ON MANY FARMS ACROSS OUR 
COUNTRY.
IF THERE WERE BEARS AROUND, MY 
DAD WOULD KEEP A GUN IN HIS 
TRUCK AND SOMETIMES HE'D HUNT 
PRAIRIE CHICKENS ON HIS WAY 
HOME FOR SUPPER.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
NEITHER MY DAD NOR ANY OTHER 
FARM EARLY I KNEW THEN OR HAVE 
KNOWN IS SINCE OWNED AN ASSAULT 
RIFLE OR AN ASSAULT-STYLE RIFLE.
THAT'S BECAUSE THOSE WEAPONS 
ARE NOT FOR HUNTING.
THEY AREN'T FOR SHOOTING A 
PRAIRIE CHICKEN.
OR SCARING OFF A BEAR.
THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR ONLY ONE 
PURPOSE -- TO KILL PEOPLE AND 
TO LOOK LIKE THEY CAN KILL 
PEOPLE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: WHEN WE REFLECT 
ON THE MASSACRE OF THE 14 WOMEN 
AT ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE TO 
SHOOTING AT DAWSON OR AT THE 
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED 
IN NOVA SCOTIA IN PORTAPIQUE 12 
DAYS AGO, THIS REINFORCES OUR 
DETERMINATION.
>> A MASSACRE OF 14 WOMEN AT 
THE ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE IN 1989 
OR THE DAWSON COLLEGE SHOOTING 
IN 2006, OR THE HORRIBLE 
TRAGEDY IN PORTAPIQUE, NOVA 
SCOTIA, JUST 12 DAYS AGO.
THOSE HEINOUS ACTS STRENGTHEN 
OUR RESOLVE AND THAT RESOLVE IS 
TO CLOSE THE GAPS IN OUR GUN 
CONTROL LAWS AND TO KEEP THE 
MOST DANGEROUS FIRE ARMS OUT OF 
CIVILIAN HANDS.
WE NEITHER NEED OR WANT SUCH 
WEAPONS IN OUR HOMES, IN OUR 
PICKUPS, IN OUR COMMUNITIES OR 
ON OUR STREETS.
THESE GUNS MAKE IT EASIER TO 
COMMIT MASS MURDER.
AND THE CULTURE AROUND THEIR 
FETISHIZATION MAKES OUR COUNTRY 
INHERENTLY MORE DANGEROUS FOR 
THE PEOPLE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND THAT IS WOMEN AND GIRLS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: TO ALL THE 
WOMEN AND GIRLS, THEY ALL HAVE 
A STORY TO TELL.
ABOUT A MOMENT WHERE THEY FELT 
VULNERABLE OR IN DANGER.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT, IN 
2020, THAT GENDER IS STILL A 
FACTOR THAT DETERMINES WHETHER 
OR NOT YOU FEEL SAFE AT HOME 
AND IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> EVERY WOMAN AND GIRL 
LISTENING TODAY REMEMBERS A 
TIME WHEN SHE WAS MADE TO FEEL 
UNSAFE, VULNERABLE OR IN HARM'S 
WAY.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT, IN 
2020, GENDER CONTINUES TO BE A 
DETERMINING FACTOR IN WHETHER 
YOU FEEL SAFE IN YOUR HOME OR 
ON YOUR STREET.
DURING THIS PANDEMIC, WE ARE 
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT 
THE RISE IN GENDER-BASED AND 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
FRONTLINE ORGANISATIONS HAVE 
SEEN A SURGE IN APPEALS FROM 
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FLEEING 
VIOLENCE.
BRITISH COLUMBIA'S BATTERED 
WOMEN'S SUPPORT SERVICES HAS 
RECEIVED 300% MORE CALLS SINCE 
THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
A TORONTO-BASED SHELTER HAS 
SEEN A 400% INCREASE IN DEMAND 
FOR SHELTER.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS ISN'T 
NEW.
FROM 2010 TO 2015, ACCORDING TO 
STATISTICS COMPILED BY THE 
CANADIAN DOMESTIC HOMICIDE 
PREVENTION INITIATIVE, THERE 
WERE 418 CASES OF DOMESTIC 
HOMICIDE IN CANADA.
WITH 476 VICTIMS.
OF THE 427 ADULT VICTIMS, 79% 
WERE WOMEN.
LET THAT NUMBER SINKER IN.
-- SINK IN.
IN 2019, ACCORDING TO THE 
CANADIAN FEMICIDE OBSERVATORY 
FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, 
118 WOMEN AND GIRLS DIED 
VIOLENTLY IN CANADA.
ON AVERAGE, ONE EVERY THREE 
DAYS.
AGAIN, LET THAT NUMBER SINK IN.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: WE ALSO KNOW 
THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE 
FIRE ARMS IS A DANGER TO 
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS LIKE 
WOMEN, QUEER AND TRANS, 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF 
COLOUR.
WOMEN, GIRLS, TWO-SPIRITED 
PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSASSINATED OR 
MISSING  ARE ONE OF MOST 
SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLES.
AND IT'S A CLEAR TRAGEDY 
BECAUSE OF THESE VIOLENCE IN 
OUR COUNTRY.
>> ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS PUTS 
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WOMEN, 
QUEER AND TRANS PEOPLE AND 
PEOPLE OF COLOUR AND INDIGENOUS 
PEOPLE AT RISK.
THE MURDERED AND MISSING 
INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS AND 
TWO-SPIRITED PEOPLE ARE, FOR 
ME, ONE OF THE STARKEST AND 
MOST TRAGIC EXAMPLES OF 
SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE.
TACKLING SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE IS 
OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
ONE THAT REQUIRES US TO 
CHALLENGE OUR ATTITUDES, 
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT, 
ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 
PERPETRATORS AND CRITICALLY 
KEEP DEADLY WEAPONS OUT OF 
THEIR HANDS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: VIOLENCE IS A 
SERIOUS PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY.
AND WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO IT.
>> HAS LONG BEEN A SCOURGE IN 
OUR SOCIETY.
IT REMAINS A SCOURGE.
WE MUST STOP IT.
AND SAYING NO TO ASSAULT-STYLE 
WEAPONS, WE ARE PUTTING 
FEMININIST IDEAS INTO PRACTICE.
WE ARE ACTING TO ENSURE THAT 
OUR SISTERS, OUR MOTHERS, OUR 
GRANDMOTHERS, OUR DAUGHTERS AND 
WE OURSELVES, INDEED THAT ALL 
WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED 
FRIGHTENED, THREATENED, HARMED, 
BRUTALIZED AND KILLED BY GUN 
VIOLENCE HAVE NOT SUFFERED IN 
VEIN.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: ENOUGH IS 
ENOUGH.
THANK YOU.
>> QUESTION PERIOD STARTING 
WITH THE PHONE.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: MERCI.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH].
>> Interpreter: QUESTION.
YES, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. 
TRUDEAU, REGARDING THE 
EMERGENCY PLAN ON COVID-19.
WE'RE RECEIVING LOTS OF  
E-MAILS FROM [INAUDIBLE] SAYING 
THAT THEY'RE SUFFERING, THAT 
THEY NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
WHEN WILL THERE BE A PLAN TO 
HELP SENIORS THERE WAITING FOR 
THIS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: PROTECTING THE 
MOST VULNERABLE THIS CRISIS HAS 
ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR 
PRIORITIES.
AND WE KNOW THAT SENIORS ARE 
MORE VULNERABLE TO COVID-19.
THAT IS WHY, FROM THE 
BEGINNING, WE TOOK MEASURES TO 
HELP OUR SENIORS.
BUT, INDEED, WE DO HAVE MORE TO 
DO.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE OTHER 
PARTIES AND WE ARE WORKING WITH 
PEOPLE IN THE FIELD IN ORDER TO 
SEND HELP TO THE MOST 
VULNERABLE SENIORS AND WE WILL 
BE DOING SO SHORTLY.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE 
HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL 
ELEMENT AND THE CORE OF OUR 
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AND 
OBVIOUSLY OUR SENIORS, OUR 
ELDERS ARE PARTICULARLY AS A 
RESULT NEGOTIABLE COVID-19.
THAT IS WHY WE PUT FORWARD A 
NUMBER OF MEASURES FROM THE 
BEGINNING.
BUT WHY WE WILL CONTINUE TO 
WORK ON SUPPORTING OUR 
VULNERABLE SENIORS.
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: SO, ANOTHER 
QUESTION.
CAN WE [INAUDIBLE] OUR PLANS 
NEXT WEEK?
AND I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING 
THE CERB.
THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT AREN'T 
FINDING PEOPLE TO WORK BECAUSE 
PEOPLE ARE CONTINUING TO APPLY 
FOR CERB.
IT IS MORE THAN OFFICIAL FOR 
THEM.
ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO DO 
SOMETHING TO HELP THESE 
ENTREPRENEURS?
ANSWER -- OUR PRIORITY IS TO 
ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF 
CANADIANS AGAINST COVID-19.
THAT IS WHY WE PUT IN PLACE 
MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO 
STAY HOME.
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND WE 
WANT TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS.
WE WANT THESE MEASURES TO 
REGAIN CONTROL IN OUR COUNTRY.
OUR NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO 
EXAMINE HOW TO OPEN -- RE-OPEN 
THE ECONOMY AND WE WANT TO MAKE 
SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN WORK 
SAFELY AND WE WILL DO SO.
THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, CHARLIE 
PINKERTON, IPOLITICS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, 
PRIME MINISTER.
WILL YOU EXPLAIN HOW WHAT THE 
GOVERNMENT IS ANNOUNCING TODAY, 
HOW IT WILL IMPLEMENT IT 
WITHOUT PASSING NEW LEGISLATION 
BETWEEN PARLIAMENT?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WHAT 
IS BEING DONE TODAY IS BEING 
DONE ENTIRELY THROUGH 
REGULATIONS.
THAT IS A TOOL WE HAVE.
BUT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE NEXT 
STEPS, INCLUDING AN EVENTUAL 
BUYBACK PROGRAMME, WE WILL NEED 
TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH 
LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE AND WE 
WILL BE ADDING FURTHER MEASURES 
TO THAT AS WELL.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ALL OTHER 
PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS AND I AM 
CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HAVE THE 
SUPPORT NECESSARY TO MOVE 
FORWARD ON STRENGTHENING GUN 
LEGISLATION IN THE COUNTRY WHEN 
THE TIME COMES FOR THEM TO MOVE 
FORWARD ON LEGISLATION OTHER 
THAN COVID-19.
>> Reporter: SO, IF YOU CAN DO 
WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY WITHOUT 
LEGISLATION, WHY WAS YOUR 
GOVERNMENT NOT PROACTIVE 
INSTEAD OF REACTIVE AND WHY NOT 
PUT THESE IN FORCE EARLIER?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
WILL TURN TO MINISTER BLAIR TO 
ANSWER THAT.
BUT WE WERE READY TO MOVE 
FORWARD ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
WE HAD BEEN PLANNING TO DO IT 
IN THE LATE WEEKS OF MARCH.
OBVIOUSLY COVID BECAME A 
PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US, 
PARTICULARLY THE MINISTER OF 
PUBLIC SAFETY WHO WAS CONCERNED 
WITH BORDERS, CONCERNED WITH 
PUBLIC SAFETY ON MULTIPLE 
LEVELS.
AND WE FOCUSED ON THAT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IT REMAINED AND 
REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR US TO 
MOVE FORWARD AND THAT IS WHY 
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TODAY.
BILL?
>> YES, PRIME MINISTER.
JUST TO EXPLAIN.
THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK 
TO BE DONE, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS 
ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH REGULATION.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY 
WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND 
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN THE 
DRAFTING OF THOSE REGULATIONS.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF VERY 
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO BE 
ADDRESSED.
WE ARE ALL HIGHLY MOTIVATED BY 
OUR COMMITMENTS TO KEEP PEOPLE 
SAFE AND CERTAINLY THE TRAGEDY 
12 DAYS AGO DEEPENED OUR 
RESOLVE TO MOVE FORWARD AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING QUITE 
DILIGENTLY OVER THE PAST 
SEVERAL MONTHS IN ORDER TO 
DPRAFT THE REGULATIONS THAT 
BRING FORWARD THESE MEASURES 
TODAY.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER HAS ALSO 
INDICATES, THERE REMAINS A 
GREAT DEAL MORE WORK TO DO.
AT THE VERY FIRST OPPORTUNITY, 
WE'LL BRING FORWARD LEGISLATION 
THAT WILL COMPLETE THE WORK 
THAT WE BEGIN TODAY THROUGH 
REGULATION.
MY FACILITATING AND PARLIAMENT 
WILL DETERMINE A NUMBER OF 
DIFFERENT IMPORTANT MEASURES ON 
HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS THE 
PRIME MINISTER'S INDICATED WITH 
A SAFE, EFFECTIVE AND 
RESPONSIBLE BUYBACK PROGRAMME, 
BUT ALSO ENABLE US TO TAKE 
ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT WILL 
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE PUBLIC 
SAFETY, STRENGTHEN GUN CONTROL 
REGULATIONS.
TODAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT FIRST 
 STEP AND IT IS A STEP THAT WE 
HAVE BEEN WORK ON OVER SEVERAL 
MONTHS.
>> [SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] CATHERINE 
LEVESQUE, LA PRESSE CANADIAN.
AVOU.
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: QUESTION, YES.
HELLO, MR. TRUDEAU.
I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE 
TIMING OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT 
WHERE ON MAY 1, CANADIANS ARE 
WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THEY 
WILL BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR 
BILLS, ALL BUSINESSES ARE 
WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THEY 
WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.
WHY?
WHY IS THIS A GOOD MOMENT TO 
ANNOUNCE THESE MEASURES ON SAUL 
WEAPONS?
-- ON ASSAULT WEAPONS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: EVEN DURING 
THIS  PANDEMIC, EVEN THOUGH 
SOCIETY HAS SLOWED DOWN OR 
STOPPED, WE HAVE NOTICED THE 
IMPACTS OF FIRE ARMS.
WE NOTICED THAT 12 DAYS AGO.
THAT IS WHY IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD 
OPPORTUNITY TO GO FORWARD FOR 
THE SAFETY OF CANADIANS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR 
WEEKS TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE 
THROUGH COVID-19, BUT THERE ARE 
OTHER THING S THAT NEED TO BE 
DONE AND THAT IS WHY WE MOVED 
FORWARD WITH INCREASED GUN 
CONTROL AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE 
BANNING ASSAULT-STYLE -- 
MILITARY-GRADE ASSAULT WEAPONS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: ON 
WHICH WE'RE VERY MUCH FOCUSED 
ON KEEPING CANADIANS SAFE FROM 
COVID-19.
BUT EVEN AMID THIS TERRIBLE 
PANDEMIC, WE HAVE SEEN THE 
IMPACT THAT SOMEONE WITH A GUN 
CAN HAVE IN DEVASTATING THE 
LIVES OF FAMILY MEMBERS, OF 
COMMUNITIES IN OUR COUNTRY.
THAT IS WHY IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD 
MOMENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON 
MEASURES THAT KEEP CANADIANS 
SAFE AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE 
MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TODAY.
CHRYSTIA?
>> [SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: I WOULD LIKE TO 
ADD, MR. PRIME MINISTER, THAT 
WITH PHYSICAL DISTANCING, OUR 
VULNERABLE POPULATION IS MORE 
VULNERABLE THAN EVER.
WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SEEING 
INCREASED IMPACTS OF DOMESTIC 
VIOLENCE AND THIS IS WHY WE 
NEED NOW, MORE THAN EVER, THESE 
NEW RULES.
THANK YOU.
OPERATOR?
LAST QUESTION ON THE PHONE, 
PLEASE.
>> Operator: MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, CANADIAN PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: YES.
MINISTER BLAIR, SOME SAY THAT 
ONE OF THE STEPS THAT MUST BE 
TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT GUNS 
REMAIN OUT OF HANDS OF PEOPLE 
THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM ARE 
BETTER SCREENING AND 
ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITION 
ORDERS WHEN THERE ARE FLAGS 
THAT SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE A 
GUN DUE TO MENTAL ILLNESS OR 
CRIMINAL HISTORY.
AND NOW THERE IS QUITE A RANGE 
OF DISCRETION AMONG OFFICIALS 
IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO -- 
WHETHER TO ENACT THROUGH 
PROHIBITION.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT MOVE ON 
THAT FACTOR?
[PLEASE STAND BY]
-- PERHAPS AN INDIVIDUAL MIGHT
BE SUICIDAL.
OR SOMEONE WHO IS INVOLVED IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A PARTNER
RELATIONSHIP, WHERE THERE'S A
SIGNIFICANT RISK TO THAT
INDIVIDUAL.
AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN,
UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE IN OUR
SOCIETY WHO ARE ADVOCATING
LESS VIOLENCE AGAINST RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES.
SO WE WANT TO TAKE THE STEPS
THAT ARE NECESSARY TO RENDER
THAT SITUATION SAFE.
AND THAT'S TO REMOVE THE
FIREARMS FROM THAT POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ALSO TO
SUSPEND THAT INDIVIDUAL'S
ABILITY TO GET ACCESS TO GUNS.
THERE IS WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE
IN BILL C-71 TO STRENGTHEN
BACKGROUND CHECKS TO MAKE SURE
THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOULD NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO FIREARMS DON'T
GET THEM.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO KEEP THEM
SAFE.
THOSE PROHIBITION ORDERS ARE TO
BE EFFECTIVE AND HAVE TO BE
RESPECTED AND ENFORCED AND
CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO DON'T
OBEY THEM AND WE -- THAT'S WHY
WE ARE INTENDING TO STRENGTHEN
OUR GUN CONTROL AND OUR GUN LAWS
TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
>> Question: JUST A QUICK
FOLLOW-UP.
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION HOW
THE C-71 PROVISIONS, SOME KEY
ELEMENTS HAVE NOT COME INTO
FORCE.
CAN YOU GIVE US A TIMELINE FOR
THAT?
I REALIZE THAT COVID-19 MAY HAVE
DISRUPTED THAT AND I UNDERSTOOD
THAT THERE WERE BUDGETARY
CONSIDERATIONS AND OTHER FACTORS
WHY THEY MAY NOT BE IN PLACE
YET.
BUT CAN YOU GIVE US A TIMELINE
FOR THE TAKING OF EFFECT OR THE
PROVISIONS IN C-71 IN.
>> YEAH, OF COURSE, JIM.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT C-71
WAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT STEP
FORWARD.
IN OUR LAST PARLIAMENT BY OUR
GOVERNMENT, TO INTRODUCE THE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE A
VERY POSITIVE EFFECT IN KEEPING
PEOPLE SAFE.
AND THERE REMAIN A NUMBER OF
ELEMENTS OF C-71 WHICH WE ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING.
AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, NOT WITHSTANDING THAT
WE HAVE BEEN VERY OCCUPIED,
OBVIOUSLY, IN OUR RESPONSE TO
COVID-19, THAT RESPONSE HAS BEEN
ENTIRELY ABOUT KEEPING CANADIANS
SAFE.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, DURING THIS
PARTICULAR PANDEMIC -- ALTHOUGH
WE HAVE SEEN A CHANGE IN A LOT
OF SOCIETY AND EVEN A REDUCTION
IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES
OF CRIME, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A
REDUCTION IN GUN VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN A REDUCTION IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND, IN FACT, BECAUSE OF SOME OF
THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SOCIAL
ISOLATION RULES IN PLACE, THAT
RISK, THAT POTENTIAL HARM, HAS
BEEN EXACERBATED.
SO WE'RE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO
MOVE FORWARD.
LET ME ASSURE YOU AND ALL
CANADIANS THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THOSE
IMPORTANT MEASURES ON BILL C-71
REMAIN A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US.
THERE'S MUCH THAT WE ARE WORKING
ON NOW TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION
AND THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL
BUDGETARY MEASURES THAT WILL
NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND THAT WILL REQUIRE THE
CONSENT OF PARLIAMENT.
BUT WHEN WE'RE READY, WE'LL MOVE
FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> [Speaking French]
(Voice of Translator): YOUR
GOVERNMENT DID NOT OPT FOR A
MANDATORY BUYBACK PROGRAMME.
THAT MEANS THAT WEAPONS THAT ARE
TARGETED TODAY COULD STILL BE
FOUND IN PRIVATE RESIDENCES.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THESE
WEAPONS WILL NOT BE USED TO
COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME?
>> (Voice of Translator): ALL
BUYBACK PROGRAMMES WILL NEED TO
BE MADE INTO BILLS AND SO WE
WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE OTHER
PARTIES WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS BUYBACK PROGRAMME
BE THE BEST ONE, THAT IT BE
FAIR, AND THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE
THE NECESSARY IMPACT.
THINGS ARE STILL BEING IRONED
OUT.
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT MEANS THAT
FROM NOW ON MILITARY-GRADE
ASSAULT WEAPONS CANNOT BE USED
IN CANADA.
AND THE NEXT STEPS STILL NEED TO
BE IRONED OUT.
[end of translation]
THE MEASURES THAT WE TOOK TODAY
ENSURE THAT THE USE, PURCHASE,
THE SALE OF MILITARY-STYLE
ASSAULT WEAPONS IN THIS COUNTRY
END TODAY.
THE NUMBERS OF THOSE
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS
IN THIS COUNTRY WILL ONLY GO
DOWN FROM HERE.
DESIGNING AN APPROPRIATE AND
FAIR AND EFFECTIVE BUYBACK
PROGRAMME IS SOMETHING THAT WE
WILL DO AS PART OF A LEGISLATIVE
REQUIREMENT.
AND WE WILL, THEREFORE, BE
WORKING WITH OTHER PARTIES IN
THE HOUSE, WITH STAKEHOLDERS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO ENSURE
THAT IT IS DONE RIGHT TO BE BOTH
EFFECTIVE AND IMPACTFUL IN
KEEPING CANADIANS SAFE.
>> Question: (Voice of
Translator): QUESTION.
SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
IT WILL BE MANDATORY?
ALSO WILL REVIEW THE
CLASSIFICATION OF WEAPONS SO
THAT A MANUFACTURER CANNOT
CREATE A NEW MODEL THAT WOULD GO
TO MARKET AND THAT WOULD
CIRCUMVENT THE LIST THAT YOU PUT
FORWARD TODAY?
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: (Voice of
Translator): ANSWER.
I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR TO MINISTER
BLARE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ADD TO
MY ANSWER.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS IN
OUR WEAPONS CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM IS THAT MANUFACTURERS OF
WEAPONS CAN CREATE VARIATIONS OF
THESE WEAPONS THAT CIRCUMVENT
THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM THAT
WE HAVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO MOVING FORWARD IS TO
ENSURE THAT THE CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM TO BE CONSTANTLY UPDATED.
WE WANT TO FOLLOW WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THE MARKET FOR
THESE WEAPONS.
THAT WAY WE'LL ALWAYS BE
UP-TO-DATE AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE
ABLE TO PROTECT CANADIANS.
[end of translation]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS ENSURING
THAT OUR SYSTEM OF
CLASSIFICATION OF -- OF FIREARMS
IS EVER EVOLVING, THAT KEEPS UP
WITH MODIFICATIONS BROUGHT IN BY
MANUFACTURERS, KEEPS UP WITH NEW
VARIANTS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
CONSTANTLY UPDATING AND ENSURING
OUR -- UPDATING OUR
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM TO ENSURE
THAT CANADIANS ARE KEPT SAFE.
BILL, YOU PERHAPS HAVE A COUPLE
COMMENTS.
>> ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE COVERED IT
VERY WELL, PRIME MINISTER.
AND WHEN THE CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE
LATE 1990s, THE SYSTEM WAS
RIGID AND INFLEXIBLE AND IT KIND
OF LET US DOWN BECAUSE, QUITE
FRANKLY, THE MANUFACTURERS
BROUGHT IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
VARIANTS THAT GOT AROUND THOSE
CLASSIFICATIONS.
WE WILL PUT A LEGISLATIVE
FRAMEWORK IN PLACE IN THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE'LL BRING
FORWARD THAT WILL CREATE A NEW
EVERGREEN FRAMEWORK FOR
CLASSIFICATION SO THAT AS NEW
WEAPONS ARE INTRODUCED INTO THE
MARKET, CANADA WILL BE ABLE TO
RESPOND QUICKLY TO ENSURE THAT
ONLY THOSE WEAPONS WHICH ARE
SAFE FOR USE IN THIS COUNTRY
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CANADIANS.
>> Question: HI, TOM PARRY FROM
CBC.
THE SHOOTER IN NOVA SCOTIA WAS
USING ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND A LOT
OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS COME IN FROM
THE UNITED STATES.
SO WHY NOT TARGET THOSE WEAPONS
AS OPPOSED TO GOING AFTER LAWFUL
GUN OWNERS?
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: TODAY WE ARE BANNING
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS
IN THIS COUNTRY.
WEAPONS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR
ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE
ONLY -- TO KILL AS MANY PEOPLE
AS POSSIBLE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF
TIME AS POSSIBLE.
THOSE GUNS HAVE NO PLACE IN
CANADA AND THE MEASURES THAT
WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD WILL
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THOSE GUNS
IN CANADA AND EVENTUALLY KEEP
MORE CANADIANS SAFE.
BUT THERE IS MORE TO DO.
THERE ARE MORE MEASURES TO TAKE,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING
FORWARD ON THOSE AND FOR THOSE
I'LL TURN IT BACK TO MINISTER
BLAIR.
>> IF I MAY -- FIRST OF ALL, THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IDENTIFYING
THE WEAPONS THAT WERE USED IN
NOVA SCOTIA IS WITH THE RCMP AND
IT'S -- THE RELEASE OF ANY
INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THOSE
IS THEIRS.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERY
FIREARM BEGINS LEGALLY AND THEN
MOVES INTO AN ILLEGAL MARKET.
AND I CAN SAY WITH SOME
CONFIDENCE THAT THE TWO LONG
GUNS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THAT
INVESTIGATION WITHOUT
IDENTIFYING THEM ARE INCLUDED ON
TODAY'S LIST.
>> Question: HI, CRYSTAL LOCK
WITH GLOBAL NEWS.
REGARDING THE NEW GUN MEASURES,
DO YOU PLAN TO BAN ALL AUTOMATIC
RIFLES AND WHY NOT BAN HANDGUNS?
THEY'RE CAUSING MORE DEATHS IN
CANADA EVERY YEAR.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: TODAY WE'RE MOVING
FORWARD WITH A BAN ON
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA
THAT COVER ABOUT 1,500 MODELS
AND VARIANTS OF THOSE GUNS THAT
ARE IN CANADA THAT ARE AVAILABLE
TO CANADIANS.
THIS WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SAFER COMMUNITIES AS OF TODAY
AND IN THE MONTHS AND THE YEARS
TO COME.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS MORE
TO DO ON STRENGTHENING GUN
CONTROL AND WE MADE A
SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENTS TO
CANADIANS BACK IN 2015.
AND MOVE FORWARD ON THEM IN THE
LAST MANDATE AND WE'RE
CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD ON
THE COMMITMENTS TO STRENGTHEN
GUN CONTROL IN THIS COUNTRY,
INCLUDING ALLOWING CITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES THE ABILITY TO
RESTRICT THE USE OF HANDGUNS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL
MOVE FORWARD ON IN THE COMING
MONTHS AS PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR
RETURNS TO DEALING WITH THINGS
OTHER THAN COVID-19.
[Speaking French]
(Voice of Translator): WE HAVE
TAKEN CONCRETE MEASURES TO BAN
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS
THAT DO NOT BELONG IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S ONE STEP
OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE
NEED TO DO REGARDING HANDGUNS
AND OTHER THINGS.
WE ALSO NEED TO FIGHT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE GUN
CONTROL IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN
ORDER TO DO SO WE WILL NEED TO
GO THROUGH PARLIAMENT AND WE
WILL DO THIS WORK ONCE THE
GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO FOCUS ON
SOMETHING OTHER THAN COVID-19.
>> Question: YOU TALKED ABOUT
THIS TWO-YEAR AMNESTY PERIOD,
FOR LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS TO
GIVE BACK THESE GUNS ON THIS
LIST.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT CANADIANS
THAT DON'T COMPLY WOULD BE FINED
OR ARRESTED?
AND HOW MUCH WOULD YOU
COMPENSATE PEOPLE WHO GIVE BACK
THESE FIREARMS?
>> BILL?
>> A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT I
THINK THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
WOULD GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF
THE AMNESTY.
BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S A
NON-PERMISSIVE AMNESTY WHICH AS
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ALREADY
EXPLAINED WOULD ALLOW A PERSON
WHO LAWFULLY ACQUIRED THESE
FIREARMS TO CONTINUE FOR A
TWO-YEAR PERIOD TO RETAIN
POSSESSION OF THEM.
BUT DURING THAT TWO-YEAR PERIOD,
THEY CAN'T USE THEM, THEY CAN'T
GO HUNTING WITH THEM AND THEY
CAN'T TAKE THEM TO THE RANGE AND
SHOOT THEM AND THEY CAN'T SELL
THEM OR TRANSFER THEM.
IT IS VERY RESTRICTIVE ON WHAT
THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO WITH THE
WEAPON.
AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE STORED
SECURELY IN A PROPERLY AND
APPROVED VAULT DURING THAT
PERIOD OF TIME.
THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF AMNESTY
ENABLES US TO BRING FORWARD
LEGISLATION THAT WITH A SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE BUYBACK PROGRAMME THAT
ALLOWS THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO
LAWFULLY ACQUIRED THOSE THINGS
-- IT'S THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO AVOID.
CANADIANS WHO PURCHASED THESE
GUNS DID SO LEGALLY.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE A
SITUATION BY PROHIBITING THEM
ALL OF MOVING FORWARD OF PUTTING
THOSE PEOPLE IN CRIMINAL
JEOPARDY.
SO WE HAVE A PERIOD OF AMNESTY
TO ALLOW US TO BRING FORWARD
LEGISLATION AND A PROGRAMME TO
ENABLE THOSE CANADIANS WHO
INITIALLY PURCHASED THESE GUNS
TO DISPOSE OF THEM AND TO NOT TO
PUT THEMSELVES PLACED IN A
POSITION OF CRIMINAL JEOPARDY.
AS I SAID, WE RESPECT CANADIANS
WHO OBEY THE LAW.
AND THE LAW QUITE APPROPRIATELY
HAS NOW CHANGED.
SO WE WILL DO THE WORK NECESSARY
AND WORK WITH THEM TO BRING THEM
INTO A LAWFUL SITUATION AND FOR
ALL CANADIANS A SAFER SITUATIONS
BY THE ELIMINATION OF THESE
WEAPONS IN OUR SOCIETY.
>> THANK YOU.
THE STANDARD CODE PROVISIONS
STILL APPLY.
THIS IS A REGULATION THAT
DERIVES FROM THE CRIMINAL CODE.
SO THE SAME -- THE SAME
STRUCTURE, FINES AND PENALTIES
THAT EXIST FOR OTHER FIREARMS
VIOLATIONS EXIST HERE.
THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
THE AMNESTY IS ALSO A REGULATION
THAT DOES GIVE THAT
NON-PERMISSIVE PERIOD WHERE ONE
CAN IN A VERY LIMITED WAY TO
TRANSPORT THE WEAPONS FOR
CERTAIN REASONS.
BUT OTHERWISE CAN'T USE THEM.
>> Question: COMPENSATION?
>> THAT WILL BE DETERMINED AS WE
HAVE SAID THROUGH A BUYBACK
PROGRAMME THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO
THROUGH PARLIAMENT THAT.
REQUIRES A BUDGET, THAT REQUIRES
A LAW.
SO WE WILL REQUIRE THE USUAL
PARLIAMENTARY PROCESSES AND
SAFEGUARDS, I MIGHT ADD, MOVING
FORWARD, AGAIN, WITH THE
COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION OF
OUR PARTNERS IN THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS.
>> Question: IT'S MAY FIRST,
HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IT IS MAY 1
AND RENT IS DUE FOR CANADIANS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE KNOW THAT THE CRCB HAS HELPED
A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT THEY HAVE TO
CHOOSE, PARTICULARLY IN BIG
CITIES, PRIME MINISTER, DO I PAY
MY RENT OR GET GROCERIES.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED IN
FOR COMMERCIAL RENTERS HERE.
IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT YOU
CAN DO TO HELP REGULAR CANADIAN
RENTERS OUT THERE WHO CAN'T PAY
THEIR BILLS TODAY?
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: FROM THE VERY FIRST
OUR FOCUS THROUGH THIS COVID-19
CRISIS HAS BEEN ENSURING THAT
CANADIANS WHO ARE VULNERABLE
BECAUSE OF A LOSS OF A PAYCHEQUE
OR A LOSS OF A JOB, WHO DON'T
HAVE MONEY COMING IN, TO BE ABLE
TO PAY THEIR RENT OR PAY THEIR
GROCERIES TO GET A RELIABLE
SOURCE OF INCOME.
THAT'S WHY WE MOVED FORWARD WITH
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE
SUBSIDY.
SO THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CAN RELY
ON MONEY COMING IN TO PAY THEIR
EVERYDAY NEEDS.
WHICH INCLUDE GROCERIES.
WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH A
COMMERCIAL RENT SUPPORT FOR
BUSINESSES BECAUSE BUSINESSES --
WE NEED THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME
BACK STRONGLY AFTER THIS
PANDEMIC IS THROUGH, OR AFTER
THIS PHASE OF THE LOCKDOWN IS
THROUGH.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A
DIFFICULT TIME FOR EVERYONE AND
WE ARE LOOKING TO TRY AND TO
HELP.
BUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY WILL GO A
SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE TOWARDS
HELPING MANY, MANY CANADIANS TO
GET THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
>> CHRYSTIA?
>> The Hon. Chyrstia Freeland:
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADD
IS THAT IT'S A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION AND I THINK THAT IT'S
ALSO IMPORTANT FOR LANDLORDS TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE
EXCEPTIONAL TIMES IN OUR
COUNTRY.
AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL
CANADIANS TO STICK TOGETHER AND
TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
SO IF YOU HAVE A TENANT WHO HAS
LOST INCOME BECAUSE OF
CORONAVIRUS, NOW IS THE TIME TO
BE REALLY COMPASSIONATE.
THAT IS THE WAY THAT YOU SUPPORT
YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND YOUR COUNTRY
IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
AND IT'S ALSO A TIME FOR BANKS
TO BE REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT
THE MORTGAGES THAT THOSE
LANDLORDS HAVE TO PAY.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND
WE'LL GET THROUGH IT BY
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND BY
ACTING TOGETHER.
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER, WE
KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL STOCKPILE
DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES
OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT.
I'M WONDERING WHAT CANADIANS AND
MEDICAL WORKERS SHOULD BE ABLE
TO EXPECT FROM THIS STOCKPILE
FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC?
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: THE NATIONAL STOCKPILE
IS IN PLACE TO SUPPLEMENT THE
STOCKPILES THAT PROVINCES NEED
TO HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES THAT COULD
ARISE.
AS WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THIS
PANDEMIC, BOTH AT THE PROVINCIAL
LEVEL AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE
SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE.
WE NEEDED TO HAVE MORE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
SO INCREDIBLY HARD OVER THESE
PAST WEEKS TO SOURCE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND THE
NECESSARY MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WE HAVE LARGELY BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE NEEDS
OF CANADIANS RIGHT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
BUT IT TOOK AN AWFUL LOT OF
SCRAMBLING AND AN AWFUL LOT OF
EFFORT THAT IDEALLY WOULDN'T
HAVE HAD TO HAVE HAPPENED.
SO THERE'S LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
GOING FORWARD AS WE ENSURE THAT
THE STOCKPILES ARE ADEQUATE,
BOTH AT THE PROVINCIAL AND THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND THAT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT HAS BEEN LEARNED
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
ON TOP OF THAT, IN TERMS OF
DOMESTIC PROCUREMENT, WE ARE
SEEING LOCAL MANUFACTURERS,
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS, STEP UP
IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS TO ENSURE
THAT WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT
NEEDED, NOT JUST FOR MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS ON THE FRONTLINES
NOW, BUT AS WE LOOK TOWARDS A
RE-OPENING OF THE ECONOMY THAT
WILL REQUIRE MORE P.P.E. ACROSS
MANY SECTORS.
>> Question: SO WHAT DOES THAT
ACTUALLY MEAN AS FOR YOUR
FEDERAL COMMITMENT?
DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU WILL
STOCKPILE IT FOR A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF WEEKS GOING FORWARD?
WILL YOU MANDATE IT?
WILL YOU PUT IT IN LEGISLATION?
WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY COMMITTING
THAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE GOING
FORWARD?
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: RIGHT NOW OUR
COMMITMENT IS TO HELP CANADIANS
GOING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC
RIGHT NOW, WITH THE EQUIPMENT
THEY NEED, AND THE SUPPORT THEY
NEED AND OUR FOCUS IS ENTIRELY
ON FILLING THOSE NEEDS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE WILL, OF COURSE, NEED TO
BE VERY CAREFUL REFLECTIONS
ABOUT HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT IF
THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN THAT WE
ARE MUCH BETTER PREPARED.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
ALL GOING TO BE COMMITTED TO.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT CANADIANS
WILL EXPECT AND SOMETHING THAT
THIS GOVERNMENT WILL DO.
>> [Speaking French]
>> THANK YOU, THAT CONCLUDES THE
PRESS CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S THE PRIME
MINISTER OF CANADA ACCOMPANIED
BY A NUMBER OF CABINET MINISTERS
AND THE DEPUTY MINISTER TO
INTRODUCE SOMETHING UNUSUAL AT
THIS TIME, BECAUSE THIS IS THE
TIME WHEN WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE
AN UPDATE FROM THE GOVERNMENT ON
THEIR RESPONSE TO COVID-19, TO
THE PANDEMIC.
BUT TODAY THEY CHOSE TO USE THIS
TIME TO TALK ABOUT A DECISION TO
RESTRICT 1,500 -- WHAT THEY CALL
MILITARY-STYLE WEAPONS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THEY SAY THAT IMMEDIATELY THAT
YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO
BUY, SELL, TRANSPORT, IMPORT OR
USE MILITARY-GRADE ASSAULT
WEAPONS IN THIS COUNTRY.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE
SOME OF THESE WEAPONS YOU'LL
HAVE A TWO-YEAR PERIOD TO GET
RID OF THEM IN A SAFE WAY.
AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT
THERE WILL BE LEGISLATION TO
FOLLOW WITH SOME SORT OF BUYBACK
PROGRAMME THAT HAS YET TO BE
DETERMINED.
BUT THAT THE MOVE TODAY BY THE
GOVERNMENT IS BEING DONE BY
REGULATION.
WHICH MEANS THAT IT IS A
DECISION FROM CABINET AND IT IS
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AND THERE
IS NO ABILITY OR NEED FOR
PARLIAMENT TO GET INVOLVED OR TO
DEBATE THIS QUESTION.
SO LET'S GET SOME REACTION FROM
THE LEADER OF THE OFFICIAL
OPPOSITION ABOUT THIS NOW
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET
HIS VOICE HERE ON THIS MOVE.
CONSERVATIVE LEADER ANDREW
SCHEER IS JOINING ME NOW FROM
OTTAWA.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MR. SCHEER.
SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE
GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO DURING
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.
THEY HAVE DONE THAT TODAY.
AND THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT
HE SPOKE TO YOU AND OTHER
OPPOSITION LEADERS ABOUT YOUR
SUPPORT OR THE SUPPORT THAT
WOULD BE NEEDED MOVING FORWARD.
SO I'LL MAKE START BY GETTING
YOUR REACTION TO WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL WE THINK
THAT IT'S COMPLETELY
INAPPROPRIATE TO MAKE THIS KIND
OF MAJOR POLICY CHANGE AT A TIME
WHEN PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN
EFFECTIVELY SHUTDOWN BY THE
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HOLD THEM TO
ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, TO USE
QUESTION PERIOD TO MAKE POINTS
ON THIS POLICY.
AND DOING IT AT A TIME WHEN
CANADIANS ARE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS PANDEMIC WE BELIEVE
IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
WE KNOW THAT WHAT THE LIBERAL
APPROACH ALWAYS IS IS TO ASK
LAW-ABIDING CANADIANS TO FOLLOW
MORE LAWS.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE FOCUS SHOULD
BE ON ILLEGALLY TRAFFICKED
FIREARMS AND CRIMINAL
ORGINISATIONS WHO SMUGGLE IN
WEAPONS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> Rosemary: OKAY.
TO YOUR FIRST POINT ABOUT BEING
ABLE TO DEBATE IT AND DISCUSS
IT -- I TAKE YOUR POINT.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE DONE THROUGH
REGULATIONS ANYWAY, THE
LEGISLATION ISN'T NEEDED.
SO WHAT -- IN WHAT WAY COULD YOU
HAVE INFLUENCED I GUESS THE
CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD?
>> WELL, LOOK, WE'RE OPERATING
IN AN ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW
WHERE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ISN'T
SITTING.
PARLIAMENTARIANS DON'T HAVE THE
AVENUES LIKE QUESTION PERIOD TO
CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT
POLICIES.
YOU'RE CORRECT IN POINTING OUT
THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY DID
WITHOUT LEGISLATION.
BUT THE CONTEXT THAT WE'RE IN IS
CERTAINLY UNIQUE.
YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
IS NOT SITTING NORMALLY AND
THEY'RE USING THIS PANDEMIC AS A
WAY TO BRING IN A MAJOR POLICY
DECISION.
WE THINK THAT IS COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE.
AND WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED RIGHT
NOW ON THE PANDEMIC AND GETTING
PEOPLE THROUGH THE HEALTH
CRISIS, AND NOW IS NOT THE TIME
TO MAKE THESE TYPES OF MAJOR
POLICY CHANGES, ESPECIALLY WHEN
THEY'RE PROVEN TO BE SO
INEFFECTIVE.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, I JUST WANT
TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE BUYBACK
LEGISLATION.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
HAVE TO BE LEGISTATED AND WOULD
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE REGULAR
PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS AND
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A LIMITED
FORMAT, SITTING ONLY ONE TIME IN
PERSON DURING THE WEEK AND TWO
OTHER VIRTUAL SESSIONS, IT WON'T
HAPPEN NOW.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FIRST THOUGHT
ABOUT THAT, THAT A BUYBACK
PROGRAMME I GUESS HAS TO MAKE
SENSE FOR THE LEGAL GUN OWNER
WHO WILL HAVE TO TURN OVER THEIR
WEAPON AFTER TWO YEARS.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT
WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM TALKING
ABOUT LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IS STILL
NOT SITTING.
THE MOTION THAT WAS PASSED MEANS
THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY
BRING FORWARD THOSE RELATED TO
THE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN
LEGISLATION ARE REAL MEASURES TO
GO AFTER ILLEGAL FIREARMS.
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
HOMICIDES IN CANADA ARE
COMMITTED BY SMUGGLED FIREARMS.
SOLOMON FRIEDMAN WHO IS AN
EXPERT ON THE FIREARMS ACT, HAS
SAID THAT EFFECTIVE GUN CONTROL
IS ESSENTIAL, BUT THAT GUN
CONTROL THEATRE IS WORTHLESS.
AND WHAT WE SEE WITH THE
LIBERALS TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS
TO TAKE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW ALL
THE RULES AND FOLLOW ALL OF THE
GUIDELINES AND MAKE THEM FOLLOW
MORE LAWS.
CRIMINALS WILL NOT BE BOTHERED
BY WHICH CATEGORY A GUN THAT
THEY HAVE PURCHASED ILLEGALLY
OFF THE STREETS -- THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO CARE WHICH CATEGORY A
FIREARM FALLS INTO OR NOT.
AND WE'RE COMING OFF THE HEELS
OF A TRAGEDY IN NOVA SCOTIA.
THE SHOOTER IN NOVA SCOTIA DID
NOT HAVE A LICENCE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS FIREARMS
WERE ILLEGAL AND THAT DID NOT
OBVIOUSLY STOP THE TRAGEDY.
SO GOING AFTER PEOPLE WHO
TRAFFIC IN FIREARMS, WHO SMUGGLE
IN FIREARMS, WHO ILLEGALLY
MODIFY FIREARMS IN TERMS OF
SAWING OFF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES,
THAT'S WHAT WILL ACTUALLY SAVE
LIVES IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT THE LIBERALS ARE DOING IS
JUST SYMBOLISM OVER SUBSTANCE.
>> Rosemary: SO I'M NOT SURE
THAT YOU HEARD THAT HE CONFIRMED
THAT TWO OF THE LONG GUNS USED
BY THE NOVA SCOTIA SHOOTER WOULD
NOW APPEAR ON THIS LIST OF
BANNED ASSAULT WEAPONS.
WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE WEAPONS
WAS FROM CANADA, AND OTHERS CAME
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
AND YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT, HE DID
NOT HAVE A LICENCE.
BUT BILL BLAIR'S POINT DURING
THAT PRESS CONFERENCE IS THAT
EVERY LEGAL WEAPON IS ILLEGAL AT
SOME POINT.
AND IF YOU SHUT DOWN ACCESS TO
THESE KINDS OF WEAPONS THAT ARE
PRIMARILY USED TO -- TO KILL
PEOPLE OR TARGET PRACTISE, THAT,
YOU KNOW, THAT AT LEAST ALLOWS
YOU TO BETTER PROTECT PEOPLE
POTENTIALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST
NOT FLOATING AROUND IN SOCIETY.
DO YOU NOT AGREE WITH THAT, THAT
THERE'S SOME BENEFIT TO THESE
WEAPONS JUST NOT BEING AVAILABLE
IN CANADA?
>> WELL, THE POINT THAT I WOULD
MAKE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS
LIMITED RESOURCES AND POLICE
OFFICERS HAVE LIMITED TIME.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE
POLICE -- PRESSURE LIMITED
POLICE TIME AND RESOURCES --
WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY
TO GET DANGEROUS GUNS OFF OUR
STREETS?
WE KNOW THAT MANY HANDGUNS ARE
USED FOR ILLEGAL CRIME.
WHEN THEY'RE SMUGGLED OVER
THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY ILLEGAL.
WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE A
LICENCE, EVERY FIREARM IS
ILLEGAL.
SO GOING AFTER THE SMUGGLERS AND
GOING AFTER SHIPMENT COMING INTO
CANADA FOR BETTER INSPECTIONS,
THAT'S WHERE WE BELIEVE THAT THE
ALLOCATION SHOULD BE MADE.
IT'S EASY BUT LAZY GOVERNMENT TO
ASK PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW ALL OF THE
RULES TO FOLLOW SOME MORE RULES.
IT'S HARDER TO GO AFTER CRIMINAL
ORGINISATIONS AND TO INSPECT THE
SHIPMENT COMES INTOING OUR
PORTS.
>> Rosemary: I TAKE YOUR POINT
AND IT DID SOUND LIKE THERE WAS
AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT MORE
NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE BORDER
AS WELL.
BUT I WOULDN'T MIND YOU
CONCEDING MY POINT THAT IF THERE
WERE FEWER GUNS THAT MAKES IT
HARDER FOR CRIMINALS TO OBTAIN
THOSE GUNS.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST LOGIC.
AND IT ALSO WOULD SEEM TO ME,
MR. SCHEER, THAT YOU CAN DO ALL
OF THOSE THINGS -- YOU CAN DO
THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE
SUGGESTING AND YOU CAN HAVE A
BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.
>> WELL, YOU MAY WANT ME TO
CONCEDE YOUR POINT, ROSEIE, BUT
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
THE POINT THAT THE FIREARMS THAT
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF HOMICIDES
IN THIS COUNTRY ARE ILLEGALLY
SHIPPED, ILLEGALLY TRAFFICKED.
THAT'S WHERE OUR ATTENTION
SHOULD TURN.
WE HAVE SEEN THE GUNS BEING --
FIREARMS BEING CLASSIFIED, FOR
CRIMINALS TRANSPORTING A
SHIPMENT OF NARCOTICS FROM ONE
PART OF ONTARIO TO ANOTHER ARE
NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT CATEGORY
THEIR FIREARM FALLS INTO.
AND PEOPLE BENT ON DOING EVIL,
AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE A LICENCE
TO BEGIN WITH.
IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THESE
TRAGEDIES.
BUT GOING AFTER ILLEGALLY
TRAFFICKED, ILLEGALLY SHIPPED
FIREARMS, THAT WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
OUR PLAN -- WE SUPPORT COMMON
SENSE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO KEEP
FIREARMS OUT OF THE HANDS OF
DANGEROUS INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING
MORE EFFECTIVE SCREENING AND
MORE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND OUR AGENCIES.
>> Rosemary: LET ME END ON
THIS, WHAT CAN YOU DO -- AND I
IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE LEGAL
GUN OWNERS WHO WILL NOT BE HAPPY
WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY WHO
MAY WANT TO CHALLENGE IT IN
FRONT OF A COURT.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT A COURT
CHALLENGE IF IT CAME ABOUT BY A
CITIZENS' GROUP OR BY LEGAL GUN
OWNERS?
WHAT IS YOUR AVENUE FORWARD
HERE?
>> WELL, I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE
INDIVIDUAL FIREARMS OWNERS AND
FIREARMS GROUPS TO MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS.
WE AS A POLITICAL PARTY ARE
OFFERING CANADIANS ALTERNATIVES.
WE HAD A MAJOR PLANK IN OUR
RECENT ELECTION PLATFORM ON
MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER
THAT FOCUSED ON ILLEGALLY
TRAFFICKED FIREARMS AND CRIMINAL
ORGINISATIONS AND ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES TO OUR POLICE FORCES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
THAT.
AND IN THE NEXT ELECTION WE'LL
BE HOPEFUL THAT CANADIANS CHOOSE
FOR COMMON SENSE FIREARMS
LEGISLATION THAT ACTUALLY
REMOVES GUNS AND ILLEGAL WEAPONS
FROM THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS.
>> Rosemary: MR. SCHEER, GOOD
OF YOU TO MAKE THE TIME TODAY.
I APPRECIATE IT.
THE LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE
PARTY, ANDREW SCHEER, HERE IN
OTTAWA FROM HIS HOME.
WE HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT
HERE ON CBC'S MAIN NETWORK AND I
BRING BACK VASSY KAPELOS FOR A
QUICK BREAK BEFORE WE TAKE A
BREAK.
AND SO LOTS THERE, CERTAINLY,
AND I UNDERSTAND MR. SCHEER'S
POSITION AND I THINK THAT IT
WILL BE ONE THAT OTHER CANADIANS
WILL HAVE AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS A BIG MOVE TO DO
THROUGH REGULATIONS TO BAN THESE
WEAPONS.
VASSY, I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30
SECONDS.
>> Reporter: OH, BOY, YES,
IT'S A BIG MOVE.
AND THERE'S POLITICAL
CONSEQUENCES TO IT.
AND THOSE WHO VOTED LIBERAL,
ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS, WANT
TO SEE IT.
BUT THE ARGUMENT ESPECIALLY
AROUND THE WAY IN WHICH THE GUNS
IN NOVA SCOTIA WERE USED THAT
WERE ACQUIRED ILLEGALLY, IT DOES
ALSO BEG THE QUESTIONS OF THE
GOVERNMENT ABOUT TIMING HERE.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND 10
SECONDS TO YOU OR 20 SECONDS,
KATHERINE.
>> THE QUESTION THAT I STILL
HAVE IS IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME
WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S
CAMPAIGN PROMISE IS HONOURED AND
THEY'LL INTRODUCE A BUYBACK FOR
ALL MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT
RIFLES.
NOT SO SAY THEY WON'T BUT THAT'S
A QUESTION THAT WE'LL WANT TO
SEE THE LEGISLATION TO.
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU BOTH
VERY MUCH AND WE'LL TALK TO YOU
BOTH IN A MOMENT.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON AND WE'LL
WRAP UP OUR COVERAGE HERE ON CBC
TELEVISION.
IT WAS MOSTLY ABOUT THIS GUN
CONTROL MEASURES INTRODUCED BY
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY.
BUT WE'LL HAVE LOTS MORE NEWS
AHEAD.
STILL ON CBC NEWS NETWORK AND
STREAMING, OF COURSE, ON
cbcnews.ca AND THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN
OTTAWA.
(♪♪♪)
>>
