By Chris Brown

Michaela Glasgo to lead Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee

Jun 3, 2020 | 12:01 PM

EDMONTON – The provincial government has established the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on how the province can balance better asserting itself in areas of provincial jurisdiction while still respecting the long history of responsible firearms ownership by law-abiding Albertans.

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

The government has also created the Alberta Firearms Examination Unit to improve firearms governance in Alberta and crack down on their illegal use.

“While some people in faraway places like Toronto might not understand the reality hundreds of thousands of Albertans simply use firearms as part of everyday life,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “Those law-abiding Albertans should not be used as scapegoats for the actions of criminals by politicians in Ottawa.”

Committee members include farmers and ranchers, hunters and trappers, and shooting sports enthusiasts.

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“Advocating on behalf of Albertans for private property rights has always been a priority for me, and that includes the right to lawfully owning firearms,” said Glasgo, adding she and a large majority of her constituents were appalled by the federal government’s “gun grab” and that many Albertans have expressed a deep desire for more autonomy from Ottawa.

“The passing of C-71 last year imposed unnecessary red tape, fees and hurdle son law-abiding citizens and businesses,” she said. “And the recent order-in-council from Justin Trudeau will now force hardworking, responsible, law-abiding Albertans to hand over their property and Albertans are rightly frustrated. I am too.”

Glasgo said Alberta has had enough of Ottawa’s meddling.

“These recent attacks on gun owners’ rights will do nothing to address the core issues that lead to gun violence — gang activity, illegal weapons smuggling, the drug trade, the list goes on. These are the issues that the federal government should be focused on, keeping everyone safe,” she said. “We need firearms policies that recognize and support the ability of Albertans to own and possess firearms in a lawful and responsible manner.”

Advisory committee members:

• 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 government says the examination unit will end Alberta’s reliance on the federal laboratory by establishing a provincial unit to perform tests on firearms used in crimes.