Charlottetown council unanimously rejects federal gun confiscation scheme

Charlottetown city council has overwhelmingly rejected a motion that would have allowed the municipality to participate in Carney’s federal firearm confiscation program.

Source: X

Charlottetown city council has overwhelmingly rejected a motion that would have allowed the municipality to participate in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal firearm confiscation program, voting 10–0 against entering into a contribution agreement with Ottawa.

The failed motion would have authorized the city to work with Public Safety Canada on the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program, including allowing municipal police to take part in seizing prohibited firearms. Councillors instead spent the evening outlining why they believe the program is a federal responsibility that municipalities should not be forced to absorb.

Introducing the item, Councillor Julie McCabe—who originally moved the motion—said it was first brought for consideration in closed-door meetings. She said that because the motion warranted a full council discussion, it was brought forward without a recommendation from the committee.

“After reviewing the details, I’m not prepared to support what staff is recommending, which is to proceed to participate in this program,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Alanna Yankov agreed, calling the program an inappropriate download onto a municipality already stretched with core priorities.

“I will not be supporting the request for the City of Charlottetown to enter into an agreement with the federal government… This is, in my view, a download of federal responsibilities onto municipal government,” Yankov said. “I do not believe Charlottetown taxpayers or municipal staff should be absorbing administrative, operational or reputational burden of executing a federal firearms initiative.”

The motion claimed that “the department’s participation in the program will be fully compensated, and the city will not incur any costs associated with its participation. To do so, the City must enter a Contribution Agreement.”

The motion followed weeks after the program was piloted in Cape Breton, costing taxpayers almost $7,000 per confiscated firearm, after only 22 were collected.

Charlottetown has 927 Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) holders and an estimated 132 restricted firearms.

Councillor Justin Muttart explained some of the controversy surrounding the program that he learned through his own research.

“There appears to be considerable misinformation in the media and on social platforms regarding the program, specifically around terminology, defining an assault style firearm, and whether participation is voluntary or mandatory,” he said.

He explained that only Cape Breton and Winnipeg had agreed to participate thus far. Muttart added that this meant other jurisdictions understood this was due to the program targeting law-abiding firearms owners instead of criminals, adding that it would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Rod Giltaca, CEO of the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights, previously told True North that the program would not remove any assault rifles.

“There were no ‘assault weapons’ banned since May 1, 2020. Every one of these firearms were for hunting and or sport shooting. That’s why they were legal in the first place,” said Giltaca. “The lies of these people are outrageous.”

Despite True North revealing that Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree claimed the program was “always voluntary,” if the Liberals’ amnesty ever ends, those who retain firearms will be deemed criminals.

The Liberals extended the firearm confiscation amnesty until October 30, 2026, the third such extension in five years. The penalty for the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm is up to five years in jail.

After a 10-minute discussion, the city council voted unanimously against the motion, 10-0.

Cheers could be heard by the small audience in the chambers.