Liberal Leader Mark Carney announced his party’s new crime reduction strategy on Thursday, pledging to tackle gun violence and disrupt criminal gangs through tougher measures and increased law enforcement resources.
Central to his proposal is a reinvigorated gun grab program targeting assault-style firearms, along with a broader plan to keep drugs and illegal weapons off Canadian streets.
“Canadians deserve to feel safe where they live, play, work, and worship,” said Carney in a press conference in Brampton, ON.
“My government will hire thousands of new RCMP and CBSA officers to crack down on illegal drugs and guns coming from the United States, increase funding to prosecute violent criminal gangs, make bail laws stricter for home invasions and car thefts, protect our children, and shield Canadians from gun violence. We will also protect community spaces so that Canadians can live their lives in safety and security.”
Carney’s plan includes several measures to strengthen firearms regulations while “respecting Canada’s hunting and sport-shooting traditions.”
Carney said a Liberal government under his leadership would reinvigorate the implementation of a gun grab program for assault-style firearms, automatically revoke gun licences for individuals convicted of violent offences, and empower the RCMP to classify new firearm models entering the market.
Funding would also be increased for RCMP Forensic Laboratories and the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory, improving the ability to trace crime guns.
“These reforms will help us take guns out of the hands of dangerous offenders,” said Carney.
“We will disrupt and dismantle criminal networks, bolster the justice system, and build a stronger and safer Canada for everyone.”
Alongside the gun grab, Carney promised to boost the ranks of both the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Carney promised to recruit 1,000 additional RCMP officers to focus on drug and human trafficking, cybercrime, foreign interference, and organized gangs that steal cars.
A new RCMP academy in Saskatoon would support these expanded efforts.
The CBSA would also see 1,000 new officers trained to crack down on fentanyl, its precursors, and other illegal drugs, as well as prevent guns from crossing the US border.
Carney said there is a need for advanced technology at Canada’s entry points, pledging more border scanners, drones, and K-9 teams.
Funding for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada would be increased to handle more drug production, trafficking, and importation offences.
Stricter bail laws for violent and organized crime, home invasions, car thefts, and human trafficking are key components of the plan, especially for repeat offenders.
To combat sexual violence and intimate partner violence, Carney proposed that hate-motivated murders, including femicide, be considered first-degree murder.
Carney also wants harsher penalties for distributing intimate images without consent and criminal charges for creating non-consensual sexual deepfakes.
The plan sets out to protect children from online crimes, including exploitation and sextortion, through new legislation.
It also addresses the rise in hate crimes by increasing funding to the Canada Community Security Program, and creating offences for obstructing access to places of worship, schools, and community centres, along with threatening people who attend them.
Carney’s strategy includes significant investment in first responders, such as firefighters, paramedics, and border services officers, with a focus on improving mental health supports.
Carney emphasized that his approach will reinforce community safety at every level.
While much of his announcement focused on crime prevention, Carney also touched on broader economic issues.
Carney restated his party’s commitment to stand “strong” against President Donald Trump’s tariffs, create new jobs, cut taxes for the middle class, and strive for the fastest-growing economy in the G7.