Sask. Firearms Act passes legislature

By John Cairns SASKTODAY.ca

On the final sitting day before the Easter break, the Saskatchewan Firearms Act passed final reading at the legislature last week and is now law.

The Act passed third reading unanimously 45-0 with all members present voting in favor.

This is the provincial legislation aimed at putting some checks and balances in ahead of the federal government’s firearm buyback program, which is aimed at buying back “assault-style” rifles and removing them from the market.

The concern from firearms owners in Saskatchewan is that the federal buyback is too broad, and that their own hunting and shooting rifles may be targeted and confiscated. The provincial legislation passed Thursday puts in a number of requirements that will need to be followed.

Under the provincial Act passed on Thursday, it will see Saskatchewan bring in licensing requirements for seizure agents (ie. police, RCMP) involved in firearms expropriation; to require and oversee fair compensation for any firearms being seized; and to require for- ensic and ballistic testing of seized firearms.

The Act will also establish a provincial firearms regulatory system that will promote the safe and responsible use of firearms. The legislation will primarily by administered by the Saskatchewan Firearms Office, which will see an expanded role prosecuting non-violent provincial firearms offenses.

There were amendments brought forward and approved in committee following second reading. According to Minister Tell, the amendment specifically had to do with seizure agents, where “police acting on behalf of another agent, or the federal government in order to confiscate firearms, will have to receive a license. They have to be licensed as well.”

“That is not to say that police in the normal course of their duties functioning as part of a police service, that they can’t confiscate or receive a firearm in the course of their normal duties. What we are saying, is very specific and proscriptive that if they are confiscating a firearm, and they’re acting on behalf of the agent or acting on behalf of the federal government confiscating the firearm, that they must get licensed.”

There is also a requirement that if municipal police forces want to take part in the federal buyback program they need approval from the provincial Minister.

“Again, that is not their function. Police are there to perform a number of functions in their communities. This would be on the request on the behalf of the agent of the federal government to expropriate firearms from lawful firearms orders. So we are saying that permission from the minister must be obtained.”

When Tell was asked whether the provincial minister would grant that permission: “I guess it would depend on the circumstances, but not likely.”

When asked to expand on that, Tell said “if they are performing that specific function to expropriate firearms from lawful firearms owners at the request or behest of the federal government or another agent, I probably will not grant that permission… Every circumstance is different.”

As for the firearms the province is seeking to prevent the federal government from seizing, Chief Firearms Officer

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