Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo, Premier Jason Kenney, and Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer. (Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Alberta announces firearms committee and gun examination unit

Jun 3, 2020 | 12:10 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The Government of Alberta is taking two steps that it claims will increase gun rights in the province for law-abiding firearms owners while punishing those who use these weapons for crimes.

Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee

Premier Jason Kenney says the advisory committee will provide recommendations for how Alberta can better assert areas of provincial jurisdiction when it comes to guns.

It will be chaired by Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo.

“We need firearms policies that recognize and support the ability of Albertans to own and possess firearms in a lawful and responsible manner. I am pleased to chair the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee to ensure our government develops policies that reflect the values of Albertans,” says Glasgo.

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The members of the committee include:

• Michaela Glasgo, chair, MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat
• Todd Loewen, MLA for Central Peace-Notley
• Shane Getson, MLA for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland
• Rick Hanson, former chief, Calgary Police Service
• Teri Bryant, associate professor, University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business
• Bob Gruszecki, president, Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association
• Phil Harnois, gun shop owner (P & D Enterprises) and 25-year Edmonton police veteran
• Gail Garrett, vice-president, Alberta Federation of Shooting Sports
• Lynda Kiejko, member of 2016 Canadian Olympic shooting team
• Andrew Blundell, vice-president, Canadian Historical Arms Society/Genesee Range
• Linley Coward, co-owner, Bullets and Broadheads Range in Grande Prairie
• Nicholas Lui, competitive shooter and Canadian Armed Forces veteran

The committee will give Albertans the ability to voice their concerns over firearms legislation from the federal government and provide recommendations on how provincial policies can target criminals “while respecting law-abiding gun owners.

Alberta Firearms Examination Unit

Kenney says the firearms examination unit will speed up the testing of guns that have been seized as evidence in criminal investigations.

Currently, Calgary and Edmonton Police are able to do this in their own stations, but other police forces in Alberta have to rely on the RCMP’s National Forensic Laboratory Services in Ottawa. It can take an average of eight months for the RCMP lab to complete testing.

“While Ottawa spends hundreds of millions of dollars targeting law-abiding gun owners, our government is investing in a firearms examination unit to conduct criminal firearms testing so prosecutions are not put in jeopardy by lengthy delays,” says Kenney. “The measures we are taking today will show Ottawa that a responsible firearms policy targets criminals and illegal gun traffickers and not lawful gun use.”

The Premier adds that Alberta is ending its reliance on the federal lab by establishing its own provincial system.

Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer is working on a plan in partnership with RCMP, Calgary and Edmonton Police, and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team to establish protocols for conducting firearms testing at the existing lab in Calgary and a forthcoming facility in Edmonton.