Kelowna's mayor suggests gun legislation is another attempt to download services to municipalities

Photo: RCMP-file

The City of Kelowna is in no hurry to enact bylaws restricting the possession, storage and transportation of handguns.

The Liberal government Tuesday tabled legislation that, if enacted, would download that responsibility onto municipal governments across the country.

Mayor Colin Basran says the issue of handguns is not something his council has had any discussions about, and doesn't see it as being put on the priority list at this point.

"It's certainly not a council priority, so I don't see this as something council will talk about anytime soon," said Basran.

"We have enough issues in regards to things municipalities are responsible for, that adding one more that used to be governed by the federal government is not something we'd consider."

Basran says the move by the federal government is just one more example of senior levels of governments offloading services onto municipalities.

"Just look at all the social issues stuff. A lot of the concerns or criticisms levelled at city council is because we are trying to fix issues that belong to a higher level of government.

"It's frustrating more than anything, and it's costly. In this particular instance I don't know if there would be a cost, but some costs would be incurred if we were to go ahead with something like that."

In terms of handguns themselves, Basran deferred any comment as to whether they are a problem in the city to the RCMP superintendent.

In response to questions from Castanet, the RCMP said, "many of the photographs we have released of items seized during local warrant executions feature handguns or replica handguns. These have been seized from residences known for criminal activity."

Comment concerning proposed legislation were directed to the national office in Ottawa.