The mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante took advantage of Justin Trudeau’s visit to city hall to directly ask him to do more in the fight against firearms trafficking.
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“I was able to speak openly with Mr. Trudeau about the situation; Montrealers who feel less secure and families who have lost a loved one. Talk to him about what we’re going through here, ”explained Ms. Plante, after a closed-door meeting that lasted about twenty minutes.
She was delighted with the openness shown by the Prime Minister on this subject, explaining that he expressed the desire to do more. A good sign according to the mayor.
“Canada must distinguish itself from its neighbors to the south by remaining a country where weapons are not trivial,” said Ms. Plante. The trafficking of arms, and their trivialization, is unacceptable! ”
It was the first meeting between the two leaders since their respective re-election in the fall.
MARTIN ALARIE / QMI AGENCY / MONTREAL JOURNAL
In the aftermath of the death of young Thomas Trudel, Mayor Plante had demanded that the federal government ban handguns and do more to fight against their trafficking. A request that she had also launched during the summer, along with the mayors of the other four largest cities in the province.
The strengthening of border control was also one of the points that the mayoress discussed with the Prime Minister.
“The reason I want there to be law from coast to coast is that guns know no borders. Not only can they return from the south very easily, but after that, they walk from one province to another, ”said Ms. Plante, recalling the need to find solutions.
For his part, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not wish to address the media at the end of the meeting. Before this, he nevertheless admitted that he would discuss certain issues affecting the metropolis, including public safety, housing and public transit.
“I’m glad to be here today to personally congratulate the Mayoress. The government will be able to work with progressive municipal leadership here in Montreal, ”he declared, before meeting with the mayor.