Quebec mayors seek ban on assault rifles, handguns as election looms
Ottawa: Ahead of the scheduled federal election for September 20, the mayors of the five largest cities in Quebec are campaigning together to seek a ban on the possession of assault rifles and handguns.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante was on Tuesday joined by Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume, Laval Mayor Marc Demers, Longueuil Mayor Sylvie Parent and Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin.
This issue has dominated the federal campaign due to this mayors called for a joint news conference. They, however, said that talks on campaign should be on handguns as well, not just assault rifles.
Besides seeking the ban, they also asked each federal party to commit clearly and firmly to exhibit a plan to better control the flow of guns across Canada.
In recent weeks, a string of fatal shootings in and around Montreal including triple homicide in city’s east end in last month have preoccupied locals and cops.