Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday that the federal government is tabling legislation that would allow municipalities to ban handguns by restricting people's ability to possess, store and transport them.
The prime minister also stated that new penalties are in the works that will include jail time for those who flout municipal handgun bylaws.
Should the legislation pass, municipalities across the country would have the authority to impose their own individual handgun restrictions.
In terms of enforcement, the prime minister said there will be tougher penalties for gun smuggling and trafficking, as well as beefing up the capacity of police and border officers to combat illegal guns. Canada will also have new laws to punish those who alter firearms to make them more deadly and create new rules to govern the import of ammunition.
"With this being brand new legislation, the Mayor and councilors will need to review what is involved and how it will impact the city of Greater Sudbury," said mayor Brian Bigger in an email to Sudbury.com.
Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen says that he hopes that the new legislation will keep illegal firearms out of the wrong hands.
"The legislation addresses smuggling, theft and diversion of firearms while placing a greater emphasis on education and training for responsible, legal gun owners," said Pedersen in an email statement to Sudbury.com.
"This will hopefully assist in ensuring that otherwise legal firearms do not end up in the wrong hands leading to potentially tragic outcomes and will strengthen our Boarder Control’s ability to intercept and disrupt firearm smuggling operations."
The police chief also indicated that there has been an uptick in the number of calls for service related to mental health and intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We welcome any legislation that helps to protect those from self-harm and victims and survivors of crime. Working together with policy-makers, community leaders and community members, we can ensure that Greater Sudbury continues to be a safe place to live, work and play," said Pedersen.
Mayor Bigger wouldn't dive into great detail about the newly tabled legislation, but says that he is committed to working with Greater Sudbury Police and other community stakeholders before anything is brought to the council table.
"Before making any decisions of this nature, deep and thorough conversations will need to take place with input and data from police and other stakeholders before taking this topic to council for consideration and any action," said Bigger.
Trudeau also announced a long-talked-about buyback program for a range of banned firearms.
Owners could turn in their guns for compensation but would also have the option of keeping them as long as the owners abide by strict conditions, including secure storage.
Under the rules, these guns could not be legally used, transported, sold, transferred or bequeathed by individuals in Canada.
