House unanimously passes Quebec MP motion to set up parliamentary committee to study gun trafficking
The Bloc Québécois succeeded Tuesday in expediting the formation of a parliamentary committee to study the illegal trafficking of firearms in Canada as early as Wednesday.
In the third week of House of Commons proceedings, the formation of committees to study legislation and other parliamentary concerns is still pending. Only the Finance Committee has been formed to deal with a bill tabled by the government, C-2, which would review federal support for the pandemic.
On Tuesday morning, the government House leader was still promising that all parliamentary committees would be established by Dec. 17, when the year-end break on the Hill begins.
In the House on Tuesday afternoon, Bloc Québécois MP Kristina Michaud moved a motion that the Public Safety and National Security Committee be formed that day and that it be instructed to "undertake a study on gun control, illegal gun trafficking and the increase in gun crime committed by street gang members as a matter of priority."
As there were no objections to her motion, it was immediately passed unanimously.
The committee will call the federal Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino, for three hours of testimony in response to the Bloc motion. The same invitation was extended to representatives of the RCMP.
The issue of handguns has been a hot topic in Ottawa since the death of Thomas Trudel, a 16-year-old boy who was killed on the evening of Nov. 14 in Montreal's St. Michel neighbourhood. Since then, both Mayor Valérie Plante and Premier François Legault have called on the federal government to find a way to reduce the flow of handguns in the country.
Last summer, during the election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to give provinces the power to ban handguns if they wanted to, though they are waiting for the bill that would make that promise a reality.
Quebec called for this power in a unanimous motion passed in the National Assembly last February.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 7, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.