Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino criticized the Alberta government for saying it would not enforce the Canadian government’s semi-automatic weapon buyback program. .“This announcement by Alberta is not only reckless, it’s an abdication of that vital responsibility,” said Mendicino in a Tuesday statement. .“The courts have repeatedly confirmed regulating firearms falls squarely within federal jurisdiction.” .Mendicino said Albertans “expect their federal and provincial governments to work together to protect their communities, not pull dangerous stunts.” .Alberta Justice Minister and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro said Mendicino “appears to have not watched the press conference or read the two news releases that were issued.” .“Alberta has been informally advised the commanding officer of Alberta’s RCMP does not support the use of provincial resources to administer the federal government’s confiscation program,” said Shandro. .“Despite these objections, we expect the federal Liberals will again use the RCMP for their own political purposes — just as they did when they politicized the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in order to bolster their case for the same pending firearms ban.” .Shandro said Alberta will seek to intervene in six ongoing judicial review applications challenging the constitutionality of the semi-automatic weapon ban. He added the province rejected Mendicino’s request for resources for firearms confiscations. .Shandro went on to say Alberta is exercising existing powers it has as a province to have the confiscation program declared an inappropriate activity in which the the RCMP should not be be used..“Should the federal government proceed with their plan, I will launch a formal dispute under the Provincial Police Service Agreement,” he said. .The Alberta government sent instructions to the RCMP to dismiss direct orders from the Canadian government to enforce its gun buyback program on Monday. .“This is politically motivated confiscation,” said Shandro. .“It will not make Alberta a safer place.”
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino criticized the Alberta government for saying it would not enforce the Canadian government’s semi-automatic weapon buyback program. .“This announcement by Alberta is not only reckless, it’s an abdication of that vital responsibility,” said Mendicino in a Tuesday statement. .“The courts have repeatedly confirmed regulating firearms falls squarely within federal jurisdiction.” .Mendicino said Albertans “expect their federal and provincial governments to work together to protect their communities, not pull dangerous stunts.” .Alberta Justice Minister and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro said Mendicino “appears to have not watched the press conference or read the two news releases that were issued.” .“Alberta has been informally advised the commanding officer of Alberta’s RCMP does not support the use of provincial resources to administer the federal government’s confiscation program,” said Shandro. .“Despite these objections, we expect the federal Liberals will again use the RCMP for their own political purposes — just as they did when they politicized the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in order to bolster their case for the same pending firearms ban.” .Shandro said Alberta will seek to intervene in six ongoing judicial review applications challenging the constitutionality of the semi-automatic weapon ban. He added the province rejected Mendicino’s request for resources for firearms confiscations. .Shandro went on to say Alberta is exercising existing powers it has as a province to have the confiscation program declared an inappropriate activity in which the the RCMP should not be be used..“Should the federal government proceed with their plan, I will launch a formal dispute under the Provincial Police Service Agreement,” he said. .The Alberta government sent instructions to the RCMP to dismiss direct orders from the Canadian government to enforce its gun buyback program on Monday. .“This is politically motivated confiscation,” said Shandro. .“It will not make Alberta a safer place.”
