Ottawa slow to implement measures against domestic violence by firearm

Photo: iStock A third of women’s murders each year are committed by firearm, said Myrna Dawson, director of the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability.

Émilie Bergeron – The Canadian Press in Ottawa

Published at 14:39

• Canada

Advocates for greater gun control are sounding the alarm and urging Ottawa to implement provisions of its law aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence.

Although nearly a year has passed since Bill C-21 received royal assent, measures aimed at preventing individuals considered dangerous from obtaining firearms licences have still not become a reality.

“It is absolutely urgent that these measures come into force because […] it is a question of the lives and safety of women and children. We believe that the government should prioritize these measures and not let them float,” said Suzanne Zaccour, director of legal affairs for the National Association of Women and Rights, at a press briefing.

Relatives of victims of domestic violence had traveled for the occasion. Tara Graham, who said she lost her mother to an abusive partner, said she was sorry that such killings are far from isolated cases.

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A third of women’s murders are by firearm

The director of the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, Myrna Dawson, said that since 2018, at least 219 women and girls have been murdered by firearm. This method of killing is used in about a third of women’s murders each year, she said.

Nathalie Provost, who survived the Polytechnique shootings, pointed out that there is no timeline for implementing the measures in C-21, which are still not in force.

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On the Web, the Government of Canada merely indicates that these must be implemented “later”.

“Some measures are already in effect, while others will come into force later to allow for the development of new systems or regulations, or to engage provinces and territories, Indigenous partners and stakeholders,” it reads.

“As soon as possible”

The press secretary for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc assured that Ottawa “fully understands the urgency to act.”

“Minister LeBlanc has also instructed his officials to bring into force the yellow flag law, which concerns the suspension of a firearm licence in cases of domestic or gender-based violence, as soon as possible,” spokesperson Gabriel said in an email. Brunet.

The groups defending abused women have also asked the leaders of all opposition parties to commit to implementing the provisions of the former Bill C-21.

Nathalie Provost wanted to send a specific message to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

“He thinks we're talking about guns because we're against gun owners. We're not. We're for the safety of Canadians, women and children,” she said.

The Conservatives opposed C-21 throughout its parliamentary study.