Liberal Gun Control Bill C-21 Passes House of Commons

Critics say the bill still targets hunters and law-abiding firearms owners instead of criminals

(L–R) Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti, and President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair listen to a reporter's question, in Ottawa on Feb. 17, 2023. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

The House of Commons has passed Bill C-21 after third reading, a bill that Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino called “the most significant gun control legislation in Canada in a generation.”

In a statement on May 18 following passage of the bill, Mendicino said the legislation would “strengthen the national ban against AR-15-style firearms.”

“It’s going to put in place permanently a national freeze against handguns. And it’s going to introduce red flag and yellow flag protocols, which will reverse the alarming trend between domestic abuse and the presence of guns,” said Mendicino.

“This bill, Bill C-21 is going to save lives,” he declared.

The bill, which passed in a 207–113 vote, was supported by all parties except the Conservatives and is now headed to the Senate. Two Liberal MPs, Yukon MP Brendan Hanley and Northwest Territories MP Michael McLeod, voted against the bill.

The Conservatives maintain the bill attacks law-abiding licensed firearms owners instead of targeting gangs, guns smuggled over the border, and dangerous criminals.

Conservative MP Raquel Dancho said at a news conference on May 8 that the new legislation simply means the Liberals have “hidden” the list of guns they want to ban and are going to hide behind a “so-called firearms advisory committee.”

The Liberals “have not learned a thing, they have not listened to Canada’s hunting, farming, and sports shooting community or Canada’s indigenous community,” said Dancho. “It’s very clear that Justin Trudeau yet again, has learned nothing from the so-called consultations that his cabinet has done over the last few months,” she said.

“And this is another attack on hunting rifles and another thing that he’s doing to show that he’s coming for hunting rifles, and he’s not going to stop.”

Another MP, Conservative Rob Morrison, a former RCMP superintendent and diplomat, spoke against the bill in the House of Commons on May 17.

“The evidence is clear, gun crime in Canada is driven by gangs and organized crime who use illegal guns. Bill C-21 is ideologically driven, should be scrapped and replaced by common sense evidence-based legislation that targets criminals, not the law-abiding hunters, sport shooters, outfitters, and indigenous peoples,” he said.

Morrison said he asked Mendicino what percentage of crimes are committed in Canada with illegal guns versus how many are committed by law-abiding, licensed firearms owners.

“I received a non-answer from the Minister,” said Morrison. “After 35 years in policing, I know the answer: Very few. This is the truthful answer that this Public Safety Minister refused to provide Canadians.”

The bill was passed within two weeks of a new version being presented by the Liberals. House Leader Mark Holland introduced a notice of motion on a Saturday, May 6, which reduced the time for debate on the bill and set a deadline for the bill to be in third reading.

The bill has a new definition of what the government considers a prohibited “assault-style firearm”: a gun that is not a handgun; and that discharges centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner; was originally designed with a detachable cartridge magazine with a six-cartridge or more capacity; and that is designed and manufactured on or after the day on which the legislation takes effect.

The legislation would only apply to new firearms and not affect any existing firearms in the Canadian market, according to the Liberals.

The bill also brings back a firearms committee that will classify guns that will be sold on the market. The transfer of handguns is already frozen under regulations, but Bill C-21 will enshrine the freeze into law.

The bill also includes provisions targeting ghost guns, which are replica firearms printed using a 3D printer.

With only four weeks left of the legislature’s spring sitting, it is unknown whether the Senate will pass the bill or consider it further in the fall.

The Liberals initially attempted to add 482 rifles to the prohibited list and create an evergreen definition of rifles it seeks to ban. Following outrage from the firearms community, First Nations groups, and opposition members that accused the government of targeting guns used by hunters, ranchers, and sports shooters, the Liberals were forced to back down and withdraw the amendments. The definition was brought back but does not target currently owned firearms.

The Liberals state they are only banning weapons designed for war; however, fully automatic weapons used by military forces are already not available for legal purchase.

Public Safety Canada announced on May 1 it intends to reconvene a Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee, which it suggests would be an independent body to review the classification of existing firearms.

Noé Chartier contributed to this report.