Skip to Main content

14.18°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Dec 15, 2023 4:53 PM - The Canadian Press

Senate passes Liberal bill that enshrines handgun freeze, targets ghost guns

Share On

senate-passes-liberal-bill-that-enshrines-handgun-freeze-targets-ghost-guns

The legislation also includes a ban on assault-style firearms that fall under a new technical definition. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Senators have passed a government bill that cements restrictions on handguns, increases penalties for firearm trafficking and aims to curb homemade ghost guns.

The legislation also includes a ban on assault-style firearms that fall under a new technical definition.

Senators voted 60 to 24 in favour of the bill at third reading today. Upon introducing the bill last year, the Liberals announced a plan to implement a freeze on importing, buying, selling or otherwise transferring handguns to help reduce firearm-related violence.

Federal regulations aimed at capping the number of handguns in Canada are now in effect, and the bill contains provisions that would reinforce the freeze. The legislation also ushers in new measures to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers and increases maximum penalties for gun smuggling and trafficking to 14 years from 10.

Latest news

AlbertaAug 28, 2026

RCMP Seek Public’s Help to Identify Suspect in Attempted Abduction of 9-Year-Old Girl

Lloydminster RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in connection with the attempted abduction of a nine-year-old girl. Police received a report of the incident on August 14 and immediately launched an investigation. No further details about the circumstances have been released. As part of the investigation, RCMP investigators worked with a forensic sketch artist to create a composite sketch of the person believed to be involved. Police say the suspect’s age is unknown and describe the individual as having short hair, a nose ring and a moustache. An

dripa-repeal-petition-approved-as-harman-bhangu-takes-aim-at-eby-government

DRIPA Repeal Petition Approved as Harman Bhangu Takes Aim at Eby Government

B.C. Opposition MLA Harman Bhangu has criticized Premier David Eby and the NDP government after the Elections Department approved the launch of a petition seeking to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Bhangu welcomed the approval, accusing the Eby government of failing to take action on what he described as a controversial law. He said British Columbians now have a direct opportunity to push for the repeal of the legislation, which he claims has raised significant concerns about jobs, land rights and the province’s future. Bhangu said the B.C. Conservativ

Amid U.S. Trade War, B.C. Takes Major Steps to Remove Internal Trade Barriers

The B.C. government says provinces and territories have reached agreements on several measures aimed at removing internal trade barriers across Canada amid ongoing trade uncertainty with the United States. Jobs and Economic Development Minister Adrian Dix said the federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for internal trade met Thursday and approved key changes to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Under the changes, a 30-day service standard will be introduced for labour mobility applications across Canada. Ministers also agreed to approve free trade in services nationwide by

shooting-in-abbotsford-three-suspects-arrested

Shooting in Abbotsford, Three Suspects Arrested

A shooting incident has been reported in Abbotsford. According to police, shots were fired around 6:10 a.m. Wednesday in an outdoor parking lot in the 2400 block of Clearbrook Road. Both the suspect and the victim had fled the scene before officers arrived. After several hours of investigation, detectives traced three suspects to a home in the 2300 block of Westerly Street. With assistance from the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, police arrested 33-year-old Ryan Sawatsky, 28-year-old Lucas Bezanson, and 34-year-old Kyle Korneik. Police later located the victim. Major Crime detectives a

32-canadians-missing-after-nepal-tibet-border-floods

CanadaAug 28, 2026

32 Canadians Missing After Nepal-Tibet Border Floods

The Canadian government has confirmed that 32 Canadians are among 1,924 people reported missing following the devastating floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Minister for International Development Randeep Sarai said Canada’s ambassador to Nepal has provided the latest information to Global Affairs Canada. Authorities have recovered 579 bodies from the debris so far, but Nepalese authorities have not officially identified any of the recovered victims as Canadian citizens. Anand warned that the number of missing Canadians could be even h

Related News

32 Canadians Missing After Nepal-Tibet Border Floods

32 Canadians Missing After Nepal-Tibet Border Floods

The Canadian government has confirmed that 32 Canadians are among 1,924 people reported missing following the devastating floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Minister for International Development Randeep Sarai said Canada’s ambassador to Nepal has provided the latest information to Global Affairs Canada. Authorities have recovered 579 bodies from the debris so far, but Nepalese authorities have not officially identified any of the recovered victims as Canadian citizens. Anand warned that the number of missing Canadians could be even h

U.S. Commerce Secretary Accuses Canada of Using Trade Talks for Political Gain

U.S. Commerce Secretary Accuses Canada of Using Trade Talks for Political Gain

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has accused Canada of walking away from trade negotiations with the United States for political reasons rather than economic concerns. Speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday, Lutnick claimed the two countries had been close to reaching what he described as their best-ever trade deal, with both sides feeling positive about the negotiations. However, he alleged that Canada backed away from the agreement to gain a political advantage ahead of Quebec’s upcoming election and a potential independence referendum in Alberta. Lutnick also dismissed conc

Quebec Election Campaign Heats Up as Trump and Trade War Take Centre Stage

Quebec Election Campaign Heats Up as Trump and Trade War Take Centre Stage

Quebec’s provincial election campaign has officially heated up ahead of the October 5 vote, with U.S. President Donald Trump and the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war emerging as major campaign issues. The focus on international economic tensions has, at least for now, pushed traditional provincial issues and the independence referendum debate further into the background. Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette launched her campaign by portraying Trump as her party’s “real adversary.” She argued that Trump’s tariffs and economic policies pose a seri

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital