The Trudeau government has enacted another unexpected gun ban, immediately outlawing 324 types of firearms. Canadians who previously used these firearms for hunting or target shooting must now secure them or face severe penalties. The government also plans to seize these firearms through a buyback program and send some to Ukraine’s military.

As with previous bans targeting hundreds of firearms, this list raises questions about its alignment with public safety goals. It includes low-powered varmint rifles, rare antiques found only in museums, and firearms no more dangerous than many that remain legal. Contrary to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s assertion, many of these guns are not designed for the battlefield.

While any bullet can be lethal, the .22 caliber is among the least powerful. It is commonly used in varmint hunting and youth-target practice. Including .22 caliber firearms on a list ostensibly targeting battlefield weapons seems questionable.

One example is the GSG-16, a .22-caliber target shooting rifle sometimes sold in pink. The list also bans several guns designed to mimic military rifles in appearance but with non-military functionality, firing .22 bullets one at a time. For instance, the newly prohibited Mauser StG44 resembles the iconic Sturmgewehr 44 but lacks assault rifle characteristics.

The government’s criteria for assault-style rifles continue to be inconsistent. True assault rifles—already illegal in Canada—are defined by automatic firing and large-capacity magazines, neither of which are permitted under Canadian law. Long before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure, rifles in Canada were limited to five rounds and semi-automatic firing (one shot per trigger pull).

The Trudeau government introduced the term assault-style in its Bill C-21, defining it as a semi-automatic rifle using centre-fire ammunition, designed post-2023, and originally intended to hold high-capacity magazines. Yet many banned firearms, including .22-caliber rimfire guns and pre-2023 models, do not fit this description.

The list also includes obscure historical weapons, such as the Browning M3 Aircraft machine gun from the 1930s, a mounted aircraft weapon already prohibited. Another example is the SaskSten, a WWII-era Sten gun modified for Canadian regulation, which sold for at least $4,000 before being banned. These weapons are rarely, if ever, involved in crimes.

The bans appear to target firearms based on appearance rather than functionality. For nearly every prohibited firearm, there are legal alternatives with similar power and firing rates. Notably, the SKS—a Soviet-era semi-automatic rifle—remains legal, likely because of its widespread use among Inuit and First Nations hunters.

The claim that banned firearms will aid Ukraine has been met with skepticism. Defense Minister Bill Blair suggested that some firearms on the list could be useful to Ukraine, but modern militaries prefer standardized equipment. Weapons chambered in .22 caliber or limited to five rounds are ill-suited for combat. Ukraine’s interest likely lies in a small subset of rifles chambered for high-powered cartridges like the .338 Lapua, suitable for sniping.

The timing of the ban coincides with the anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, in which a legally purchased Ruger Mini-14 was used to kill 14 women. The Mini-14 was included in a 2020 ban, yet firearms with comparable caliber and firing rates remain legal.

The ban also comes as police organizations criticize earlier gun control measures. In October, both the Toronto Police Association and Surrey Police Union denounced the government’s handgun freeze, noting that gun crime has surged since its implementation.

The reason is clear: most crime guns in Canada are illegally smuggled from the United States, making regulatory changes to legal gun ownership ineffective in curbing gun violence.

What do breast milk, liquid medication, and distilled water (for CPAP devices) have in common?

They are all considered essential liquids and can be carried through security screening in quantities exceeding the 100ml limit.

These items are exempt from the 100ml liquid limit and do not need to be placed in your 1L plastic bag. However, you must declare these items to the screening officer at the checkpoint and remove them from your carry-on bag for inspection.

Learn more about essential liquids here.

The southern United States is on track to surpass Canada’s longstanding dominance in the North American lumber market, as years of trade restrictions and environmental challenges take a toll on Canadian output. According to commodity pricing agency Fastmarkets, the U.S. South is poised to overtake Canada in softwood lumber capacity for the first time since at least 1970. This shift highlights how Canada’s lumber sector has weakened under U.S. tariffs, alongside issues like wildfires, land-use regulations, and insect infestations.

In August, the U.S. raised import duties on Canadian softwood lumber by nearly 81%, intensifying a four-decade trade dispute. Analysts expect the current 14.54% levy could double by next year, illustrating how trade policies can reshape industries and create new market leaders. Tariffs on imports have become a prominent election topic in the U.S., with Republican candidate Donald Trump advocating for broad import taxes. The U.S. has long claimed that Canada’s C$10 billion ($7.2 billion) industry undercuts American producers with low-cost lumber, contending that Canadian loggers’ government-set fees constitute a subsidy. This dispute has severely impacted British Columbia (BC), where forest products made up a quarter of all export value in 2022. Additional tariffs could be “quite devastating for the sector,” said Kurt Niquidet, chief economist at the BC Council of Forest Industries, noting the potential for widespread mill closures across Canada.

While Canadian sawmills, especially in BC, grapple with rising costs and diminishing revenue, the U.S. South is seeing gains in lumber production. The U.S. Lumber Coalition credits tariffs for fueling American investment and boosting production capacity. North American sawmill closures resulted in a 4% capacity reduction this year alone, with over 40% of those closures in BC, according to Fastmarkets senior economist Dustin Jalbert. Canfor Corp., a major Canadian forestry company, announced plans to shutter two BC mills by year-end, citing tariffs and limited timber supply, resulting in a C$100 million writedown. Other major Canadian producers, including West Fraser Timber Co., Interfor Corp., and Western Forest Products Inc., have also cut back or closed mills in western Canada.

The U.S. South, benefiting from faster-growing private forests, has emerged as North America’s largest wood-producing region, says Brooks Mendell, president of Forisk Consulting in Georgia. However, he noted that Canada remains essential to North America’s lumber supply, as the U.S. alone cannot meet demand. If Canada’s output continues to decline, American consumers may face higher lumber prices or turn to more distant sources, like Scandinavia. “The U.S. can only produce so much more incremental lumber before reaching a maximum harvest limit,” noted BC-based forestry consultant Russ Taylor, who has been active in the industry for over four decades.

Lumber demand is showing signs of recovery, potentially slowing Canada’s decline. U.S. single-family home construction is increasing, with the National Association of Home Builders forecasting growth through 2026. Fastmarkets expects North American lumber capacity to fall short of demand this year for the first time since the pandemic-fueled home improvement surge. “If demand recovers next year while supply is down, it doesn’t take an economist to see what that likely means for prices,” said Fastmarkets’ Jalbert.

The Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat Student Program is now open for applications for Summer 2025. This is an opportunity to embark on an exciting adventure where you can truly make a difference on the water and in people’s lives. Applications close on December 30th, 2024.

If you are considering a career with the Canadian Coast Guard, there is three upcoming virtual presentations designed to help navigate the process for the Officer Training Program.

• Explore the Officer Training Program
• Understanding the Canadian Coast Guard College Admissions Process
• Tips for the Written Assessment and Interview Preparation

Click here for more information and to register online.

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