Conservative MP Billy Morin, Edmonton Northwest representative and former Chief of the Enoch Cree Nation, fiercely criticized the Liberal government’s $742-million gun buyback program in the House of Commons today, calling it a threat to Indigenous treaty rights and a misuse of public funds.
Drawing on his Cree heritage, where hunting sustains some of Alberta’s Indigenous communities, Morin argued the program unfairly targets lawful firearms while ignoring illegal gun smuggling from the U.S. border.
“This gun grab program threatens our Aboriginal inherent and treaty rights to live off the land,” he said. “Our hunting rifles are not the Prime Minister’s political props. They are part of our way of life… Confiscating lawful guns while smugglers pour illegal guns across the border shows how badly the Liberals have lost their way.”
Morin questioned Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree’s credibility, citing his leaked admission of the program’s flaws.
“How can judges, police officers… trust his public safety Minister when he says one thing behind closed doors and another thing in this chamber,” Morin said. He noted the $742 million could fund “5000 police officers, 37,000 treatment beds,” adding, “Canadians are feeling less safe, and Indigenous peoples have our rights threatened.”
Morin urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to replace Anandasangaree, saying, “Canadians deserve real safety, not liberal games.”
In a statement, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith emphasized that Alberta will not assist with the federal initiative, stating, "Our message to law-abiding firearms owners: Alberta’s government will not be cooperating with this gun grab against law abiding firearms owners. We expect law enforcement to focus their time and resources on real provincial policing priorities, like policing violent criminals, not hunters and sport-shooters."