Federal Gun Grab: Bad Policy Won't Fix Violent Crime Surge
Plus Liberals vote against a tax break, Canada-People's Republic of China committee and more...
Federal Gun Grab: Bad Policy Won’t Fix Violent Crime Surge
On October 22nd, the Prime Minister announced that the national freeze on the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns would take effect. According to the Liberal government, these measures will yield safer communities and protect Canadians from violent gun crime. Sadly, this measure won’t result in lower cases of gun violence in our country.
First, has there been an increase in gun violence in the past few years? Yes.
Since 2015, there has been a increase in firearm-related crime in Canada. More pointedly, there has been a notable increase in rates of firearm-related violent crime in rural Alberta (+32% in the North and +31% in the South). Handguns were the most prevalent firearm used in these circumstances (59%).
Firearm-related violent crime is on the rise in this country. Handguns were primarily used. It is a serious concern and requires action from the federal government.
When identifying the origins of handguns used in firearm-related crime, Canada has serious knowledge gaps. The information gathered on the source of firearms used in crime is scarce. Police services are inconsistent in determining whether or not a gun used in a crime was stolen, illegally purchased or smuggled into the country. Let’s break down the three options.
Was the gun stolen? Perhaps. But gun theft has been down since 2016.
Was the gun illegally purchased? Possibly. As previously stated, information gathered on the source of firearms used in Canada is very low. The question cannot be answered with any sort of authority.
Was the gun smuggled? Possibly. Gun smuggling is a big problem in Canada, with smugglers doing everything they can to illegally meet the high demand. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have been working to seize illegal firearms, but the creativity of those wanting to smuggle guns and get rich quick knows no bounds. There are now ‘ghost guns’ (3D printed firearms) that are coming over the border as well. As shown in the graphic below, there is a regional factor in the amount of guns that are being illegally smuggled and seized by the RCMP and CBSA. This was not taken into consideration.
There’s a lot of nuance in this conversation. But we can make certain assumptions on criminality. One of the objections to the banning of handgun sales is that it negatively impacts law-abiding firearm owners. This sentiment is justified when you know what the process is to become eligible to purchase and own a firearm legally.
To become a licensed firearm owner, you must first sign up for a Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and pass the one-day course (test occurs on the same day). Once passed, you have to take a safety test and score higher than 80%. Once passed, you can then apply to be a firearm owner. The application includes intrusive questions, including a list of names of former domestic partners, who will be contacted and interviewed by the RCMP. The application takes, at a minimum, 45 days to process. Once processed, there is an additional 28 day waiting period added for those who are applying for the first time. We have one of the strongest licensing systems for firearm owners in the world; and this is all before you get to own a single firearm.
Criminals don’t take the time to go through this process before they commit a violent crime. Law-abiding, RCMP-vetted firearm owners are being unfairly targeted under this new liberal decree, while organized crime and gangsters continue their activities unabated.
The handgun freeze is the wrong place to focus on when dealing with gun violence. We should focus on the gun smuggling by supporting RCMP and CBSA on their efforts to seize illegal guns coming into Canada. Licensed firearm owners lose in this deal, while criminals continue to use handguns to compromise the safety of our communities.
Update on Work at Canada - People’s Republic of China Committee
Earlier this week the Canada-People’s Republic of China continued its investigation of the current relationship with the Beijing government. This is an important trade relationship, our second largest with any country, and the select committee is holding hearings to determine the current state of the government-to-government relationship. We heard from experts this week who gave us detailed information about intimidation by Beijing directed United Front Works groups in Canada that target Canadians of Chinese heritage. We heard examples of this same strategy being employed overseas in other allied Western states. We also heard of the PRC’s efforts of infiltrating foreign democracies by having secret supporters in decision-making positions. This corrodes national sovereignty and divides parties, making any critic of the CCP reluctant to speak out, even if they are aware of infiltration.
Ensuring that citizens feel safe and protected on Canadian soil is of critical importance to my work on the committee. Watch the exchange I had with an author widely considered an expert on how Beijing targets groups overseas.
Just the Facts: New Liberal Policies on Housing and Dental Care do not Hold up to Scrutiny
The Liberal-NDP coalition has made much of their proposed dental and rental benefits, which just passed its final stage of debate before going to the Senate. Time and time again, they claim these policies will help children get access to dental care, with NDP MP Richard Cannings claiming it will “bring dental care to all Canadian kids who need it.” On the housing benefit, they have proposed a one-time $500 cheque for low-income renters impacted by inflation.
Here are just the facts: the Liberal-NDP coalition did not announce a dental plan or rental plan. The Liberal dental plan, estimated to cost taxpayers $703 million by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), is actually a boutique tax credit, involving direct, tax-free payments for dental expenses. Despite claims that many Canadians and children will be helped, families earning over $90,000 are ineligible for the benefit and the tax credit is age limited to 12 and under.
Any applicant eligible for the METC tax credit is ineligible for this benefit. Anyone with access to a private or public dental plan is not eligible for this benefit. Additionally, 9 out of 10 provinces already have coverage for kids under the age of 18. This is in no way a credible plan or even an attempt at one, and this information is publicly available on the federal government’s own website.
The Liberal government has also misled Canadians on the $500 cheques for the housing benefit, a proposal that will cost taxpayers up to $940 million. Why will this policy not help? Well, the average rent in Canada is now over $24,000 a year, and despite claiming that they intend to support those affected by inflation, more than 6 out of 10 renters will not qualify for the program. Those eligible will receive a $500 one-time boost, representing a week of rent in an average housing unit in Calgary. This is no way a serious housing proposal. If they were truly serious about housing, they would support Conservative policies on increasing housing supply. They have not done so.
The reality is that Canada is falling apart under the Prime Minister and it is more unaffordable than ever. Reckless non-pandemic spending in upwards of $200 billion, enormous borrowing by the federal government and reckless tax increases in the new year are causing real harm to our economy and to our family budget. The dental and rental benefit are not serious policies. Precious time is being wasted by the federal government, instead of preventing tax increases on home heating and groceries this winter. This is window dressing from the federal government and real solutions require complex, difficult work to address the Liberal-made cost-of-living crisis.
Canada Real Estate Association Meeting
Had a lively discussion with real estate experts at the members of the Canadian Real Estate Association. A two year ban on foreign buyers is about to be introduced and the rules remain unclear. They carry heavy fines and potential jail time for violating the rules. Citizens have more faith in government initiatives when the rules are clear and understood by everyone.
Liberals Vote Against Tax Relief for Canadians
The cost of living crisis continues to impact Canadians. Over $200 billion of non-pandemic binge spending, the highest use of food banks in 30 years, and the fastest hikes of interest rates in 40 years. With another rate hike by the Bank of Canada, people are being hit even harder. On Monday, Liberal MPs voted against our motion to exempt all forms of home heating fuel from the carbon tax for all Canadians. Winter is coming. Many using home heating fuel will see a jump in their home heating costs. Canadians shouldn’t be financially punished for keeping warm.