EAST CENTRAL — A letter sent out by an Alberta city called for all Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba municipalities to stand together against federal changes to gun laws.
The letter, sent by Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland, said the gun ban will be an expensive endeavour that will do little to reduce crime. In the July 7 letter, Cold Lake council called on all these municipalities to voice their concerns along with the provincial governments.
“Municipalities are the level of the government closest to the people, and a large part of our budget and operations is focused on providing safe and healthy communities.”
A law passed by the Saskatchewan government in June prevents municipalities from banning handgun and other firearms if the federal government decides to give them that power.
Local town and city councils in east central Saskatchewan took time from their recent regular meetings to address the letter.
Nipawin addressed the letter at their Aug. 10 council meeting, with Councillor Joyce Watts speaking to the letter. Putting support behind Cold Lake at this time may drive the federal government to move the onus onto municipalities to ban guns within their communities, she said.
That isn’t right, she said.
Mayor Rennie Harper agreed.
“Municipalities aren't in a position to make laws about firearms. Can you imagine if every municipality was making its own rules?” she said. “Rather than being divisive, I think we need to find a way to be cohesive.”
The municipalities need to work together with the federal and provincial governments to develop gun laws that work for everyone. The tone of the letter sounded divisive rather than collaborative, she said, and that is not what is needed to address this issue.
This issue is one they will take to the Municipalities of Saskatchewan as they have the means to address the issue on behalf of all municipalities and work towards a collective
In Melfort, city staff will be working to gather more information about the issue and how other cities are responding, said Mayor Rick Lang.
“When we hear how other cities are reacting and what their process is going to be, if the majority of cities in Saskatchewan are going to support that with a letter, I would imagine we wouldn't want to be outside that sphere. We would join in and support it as well.”
Tisdale addressed the letter at their Aug. 10 council meeting. There wasn’t much discussion from councillors, said Mayor Al Jellicoe, but with much of the town’s administrative staff on holidays, they may look at the letter again during an in-camera session during an Aug. 20 meeting.
Hudson Bay town council also looked at the letter at their July 28 council meeting.
