By CHAT News Today

Replacing federal officer

Alberta to appoint chief provincial firearms officer

Jun 18, 2020 | 12:04 PM

A chief provincial firearms officer to be appointed by the province will ensure firearms policy and regulatory enforcement reflect the priorities and needs of Albertans.

Creating the position is one of the 25 recommendations of the Fair Deal Panel’s report that was released on Wednesday.

The government says it will administer the Canadian Firearms Program itself and the Alberta officer will replace the federally designated chief firearms officer.

“In Alberta, we will ensure we have a system of firearms policies and governance measures that protect Albertans, prosecute criminals and deter illegal gun crime rather than persecuting law-abiding citizens,” said Premier Jason Kenney in a release.

Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo, the chair of the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee, said she is eager to working with law-abiding farmers, hunters and sport-shooters to provide recommendations.

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“Our government was hired in record numbers on a mandate that speaks to the issues that matter most to Albertans. Appointing a chief provincial firearms officer will fulfil one of our key campaign commitments.” – _{Michaela Glasgo}

Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer said the government has “heard loud and clear that Albertans are frustrated with policies designed for downtown Toronto and want a system that works better for Alberta.”

The office is expected to be in place in 2021.