Statement from Minister Lang in support of Yukoners who own firearms

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Laura Lang has issued the following statement:

“The Government of Yukon strongly opposes the ongoing federal effort to confiscate firearms from responsible gun owners.

“Yukoners, including members of Yukon First Nations exercising their subsistence rights, hunters, outfitters and sport shooters are facing the brunt of the federal confiscation efforts. These efforts distract from real challenges and are fundamentally incompatible with the northern way of life that unites all Yukoners. Hunting, harvesting, feasting and celebrating are inseparable from our northern community and identity and must be promoted, not punished.

“This confiscation program doesn’t apply to criminals. It exclusively targets trained, vetted, licence-holding citizens who have done everything right.

“Instead, limited policing resources should be devoted to improving police services and social supports for Yukoners and targeting criminals and organized crime. They should not be diverted to a program with no viable plan for implementation, no substantive evidence to back it, little chance of showing results and deteriorating support across Canada.

“We also acknowledge the federal program’s fundamental unfairness. Only a small percentage of seized firearms will be compensated. The first-come, first-served model means Yukoners living in remote locations may be the last in line to receive potential compensation. Further, the confiscation program fails to compensate owners for loss of use or for the components, accessories and ammunition that have no value without a suitable firearm.

“These costs will leave responsible Yukon gun owners out of pocket for many thousands of dollars, on pain of criminal penalty. Our government appeals to the Government of Canada to scrap this program and related prohibitions, and instead to work positively with Yukon gun owners toward real solutions that enhance public safety, security and sovereignty while respecting Yukoners and the Yukon way of life.

“The Government of Yukon will not participate in this counterproductive program. We support and agree with other jurisdictions and organizations who oppose it.

“We are exploring additional options to support law abiding gun owners within our jurisdiction and will have more to announce in the coming weeks.”