Regular Meeting of the members of the Council of the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman, held in the Council Chambers in Minitonas, Manitoba this 6th day of October, 2020 A.D. at 6:00 pm.


Present:
Reeve: W. Pacamaniuk
Councillors: G. Bartel, L. Hutman, C. Densen, D. Wagner and S. Walmsley
CAO: Patti Simpson
Absent with Notice:
Councillor W. Kolisnyk

1. D. Wagner – L. Hutman
RESOLVED THAT the Agenda be adopted as presented.
Carried.

2. G. Bartel – S. Walmsley
RESOLVED THAT the following Council Minutes shall be adopted as circulated:
Regular meeting September 29, 2020
Carried.

3. S. Walmsley – D. Wagner
RESOLVED THAT Council lobby the federal government to revoke the amendments to the criminal code on May 1, 2020 under an “Order in Council” titled and referred to as “Regulations Amending the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Part of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted: SOR/2020-96”; and
WHEREAS the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman supports initiatives to end violence; however, feels very strongly that the Government of Canada is wasting valuable resources and is taking the wrong approach to gun control that will have zero effect on gun crime; and
WHEREAS on May 1, 2020, the federal government amended the Criminal Code by ordering regulations prescribing certain firearms, components and parts of firearms, accessories, cartridge magazines, ammunition and projectiles as prohibited or restricted; and
WHEREAS the Government of Canada is planning a buyback program to get the guns out of circulation, which is expected to cost between $400 million and $600 million, and if the history of federal estimating repeats itself, will likely be in excess of $1 billion; and
WHEREAS the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to end violence, whether firearms are involved or not, by taking the opportunity to be more engaged and to collaborate with the public and local stakeholders to develop more effective solutions on the issue;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman urges the Government of Canada to revoke the amendment, and instead institute the following:
Target crime, and focus on the enforcement through enhanced enforcement capacity for law enforcement and border services, as well as harsher punishments for firearms trafficking and crimes involving firearms. The current ban targets law abiding owners, rather than the holders of illicit firearms, and would not greatly impact crime reduction;
Collect and share relevant data on crime involving firearms through improved collection and sharing of data on crimes involving firearms, particularly in terms of sources of illicit firearms, and the types of crime being committed. This data is critical for supporting law enforcement and border agencies efforts, as well as informing policy and legislation;
Collaborate with the firearms community and industry to support communication, training and public education regarding firearms to create a multi-faceted approach rather than implementing a ban in isolation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman feels that the federal government’s gun ban will be an expensive exercise that will only serve to take law abiding people’s property, while doing nothing to reduce crime.
Municipalities are the level of government closest to the people, and a large part of our budget and operations is focused on providing safe and healthy communities. We see forecasts of hundreds of millions of federal dollars to be spent to buy guns back from people. As there are people who went through the necessary education, background checks, and licensing to purchase them, it seems to be a poorly thought out plan, especially if its aim is to reduce crime.
For: 5
Against: 0
Abstained: 1
Carried.

4. L. Hutman – D. Wagner
RESOLVED THAT the members of the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman Council do hereby agree to go ‘In Camera’ as a Committee of the Whole in accordance with Subsection 152(3)(b)(ii) of the Municipal Act.
Carried.

5. S. Walmsley – G. Bartel
RESOLVED THAT we do agree to return to reopen the meeting to the public in accordance with Subsection 152(4) of the Municipal Act.
Carried.

6. L. Hutman – D. Wagner
RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 9:20 p.m. to meet again on October 20, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. for the next regular meeting of Council.
Carried.