“People in Montreal deserve to feel safe in their community,” said Federal Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino on Thursday, as the metropolis was hit by a wave of violence committed by firearms.
During a press briefing in Miramichi, New Brunswick, he promised to continue his “close collaboration” with his Quebec counterpart, Geneviève Guilbault, and with the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, to tackle this issue.
“We are wholeheartedly with Montrealers. I know there are a lot of people who are feeling worried right now, ”he said straight away, taking the floor.
Two murders occurred in Montreal in broad daylight on Tuesday, 30 minutes apart. A 44-year-old man was shot dead in the parking lot of the Rockland shopping center in Town of Mount-Royal. A second man, aged 50, succumbed to his injuries after being hit by at least one firearm projectile on Saint-Denis, near the corner of Maisonneuve Boulevard.
Minister Mendicino on Thursday touted initiatives put forward by the Trudeau government, such as Bill C-21, which provides for a national freeze on the sale, purchase, transfer and import of handguns .
Ottawa moved up the entry into force of the import ban, which took effect last week.
” That [prend] smart policies like Bill C-21 and like increasing the penalties for firearms traffickers and other criminals,” said the federal elected official.
The piece of legislation, which was introduced at the end of May, is still under consideration in the House of Commons, which has adjourned for a summer break.
The minister said he wanted the bill to pass quickly, noting that handguns are often used in homicides.
He was in Miramichi to announce the granting of nearly a million dollars to the City so that it distributes grants to local organizations that work in the prevention of armed violence.
Mr. Mendicino also recalled that Ottawa has paid more than $40 million to the Government of Quebec for the prevention of violence by firearms.
“Money alone cannot solve the problem. We must also move forward with good laws,” added the Minister.
He mentioned that organizations such as PolySeSouvient welcomed Bill C-21 when it was introduced.
The minister also noted that the Trudeau government has banned more than 1,500 models and variants of assault-type firearms, such as the AR-15. A mandatory buyback program is to be launched by the end of the year.
Last month, Public Safety Canada released a price list detailing how much owners of prohibited firearms can expect to get under the program.