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EDMONTON – Alberta is joining Saskatchewan and Ontario in a Supreme Court of Canada appeal challenging the federal government’s 2020 firearms prohibition, arguing that the measures unfairly target lawful gun owners rather than violent criminals.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery announced Nov. 10 that Alberta is intervening in the appeal to present the province’s opposition to the federal firearms restrictions directly to Canada’s highest court.
The province maintains that federal firearms policy should focus on illegal firearms trafficking and violent crime rather than hunters, farmers, sport shooters and collectors who legally own firearms.
“Alberta’s government has been clear that we oppose any policy that undermines law-abiding firearms owners,” Amery said in a statement.
“Hunters, farmers, sport shooters and collectors who follow the law are not the cause of violent gun crime, and targeting them does not make our communities safer.”
Amery said Alberta’s participation in the Supreme Court proceedings will provide an opportunity to challenge the federal government’s approach alongside Saskatchewan and Ontario.
“By intervening, Alberta has a direct opportunity to make our position heard before the Supreme Court of Canada,” he said.
The legal intervention follows several measures introduced by the provincial government to limit its participation in federal firearms policies.
Last year, Alberta invoked the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act to establish that the province would not participate in the federal government’s firearms confiscation program.
The government has also directed law enforcement agencies to prioritize violent offenders and threats to public safety rather than enforcement activities targeting lawful firearms owners.
Alberta has taken additional steps to regulate firearms policies within the province, including preventing municipalities from introducing their own firearms rules.
The province also requires individuals and organizations involved in seizing, storing or destroying firearms to obtain licensing through Alberta’s chief firearms officer.
Amery said the measures are intended to protect responsible firearms owners while ensuring police resources remain focused on criminal activity.
“Our position has always been straightforward: firearms policy should focus resources on violent criminals and illegal firearms trafficking, not responsible Canadians who follow the law,” he said.
The federal government’s 2020 firearms prohibition remains the subject of the Supreme Court appeal, with Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario seeking to present their positions as interveners.
Alberta’s government says it will continue opposing federal firearms restrictions through both legal proceedings and provincial legislation.
“Albertans who safely and responsibly own firearms for hunting, sport shooting, farming or collecting should know their provincial government has their back,” Amery said.
“We will keep fighting for firearms policies that respect lawful owners and focus public safety resources where they belong: on crime and criminals.”
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