A Have an idea for a story? Minews@theotherpress.ca ¢ Buyback program offered for gun owners, but details remain unclear ¢ Coquitlam police ask people to stop spreading online abduction ‘rumours’ ..and more Trudeau's gun ban awaits Senate approval » Buyback program offered for gun owners, but details remain unclear Jessica Berget Assistant Editor O n May 1, 2020, PM Justin Trudeau announced a municipal gun ban called Bill C-21 which covers over 1500 firearms following the shootings that occurred in Nova Scotia in April 2020. As of February 16, Trudeau has announced that the federal government will be introducing agun buyback program for “assault style” firearms (which has no real definition in Canada). Current prohibited gun owners are exempt from this law until April 30, 2022 and can only transfer their firearms for certain reasons. This legislation will allow municipalities to change bylaws surrounding firearm transport, storage, and possession which can be enforced with jailtime for violators. Bill C-21 also says it will also make stricter criminal punishments for firearm smugglers and traffickers (10 to 14 years in prison) and enhance border security to keep illegal firearms out of the country. Public Health Minister Bill Blair also says owners of prohibited firearms will no longer be able to “grandfather” or bequeath their guns and that those who dont sell their guns back to the government will be held responsible if they end up in the hands of criminals. Furthermore, the bill includes a “ted flag” and “yellow flag” law which dictates that people can ask to have a gun owner’s guns removed from them or their licence reviewed if they feel there is a risk Illustration by Jessica Berget of danger to themselves or the public. Despite this, the details of the federal government’s gun buyback program remain to be seen. Bill Blair estimates that there are over 150,000 to 200,000 firearms in Canada, which can cost up to $300 to DSU campaign aims to get rid of student loan interest > ‘Knock out interest on student loans’ letter directed to PM Justin Trudeau Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo Jessica Berget Assistant Editor ccording to the DSU, the average Canadian student accumulates about $5000 in student loan debt interest, and this is why many post-secondary institutions are asking the federal government to eliminate all student loan interest debts. The “Knock Out Interest” campaign led by the British Columbia Federation of Students (BCFS) has been endorsed by over 40 student unions representing over 750,000 students, including our very own Douglas College Students’ Union. The campaign claims that student loan in Canada has increased by 78 percent since 1999, reaching $35,000 for a four- year bachelor’s degree, and that the total outstanding federal debt amounts to $18.5 billion (not including provincial student loans). The campaign has been putting pressure on PM Trudeau considering the recent pandemic making it harder for students to pay their debt interests. Ina February 8 news release, DSU Director of Student Relation, Caitlin 400 million (if the average price for each firearm was $1300). Despite the backlash from gun advocates, Trudeau says in a news conference that this law is not punishing law abiding gun owners. “We are not targeting law-abiding citizens who own guns to go hunting or for sport shooting. The measures we're proposing are concrete and practical. And they have one goal and one goal only—protecting you, your family, and your community. Because the victims are real. The pain of their families is real." Conservative leader Erin O’Toole says in a news release that this new law will do nothing to curb gun violence. “I think Mr. Trudeau misleads people when he tries to suggest that buying things back from hunters and other Canadians who are law-abiding is somehow going to solve the problem of shooting and criminal gang activity in the big cities. It’s ignoring the real problem and it’s dividing Canadians.” Both mayors of BC’s biggest cities, Vancouver and Surrey say they will adopt these new gun laws once legislation is passed. Bill C-21 currently remains in the House of Commons and awaits Senate approval before being made federal law. Spreeuw, says the pandemic is a great time to do this as many students are struggling. “Students and young people have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic recovery will take several years; to support recent and future graduates, the federal government should permanently eliminate interest charged on student loans. Today, we are sending an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to kick off a Canada-wide Week of Action urging him to eliminate interest on Canada Student Loans.” Other Canadian provinces like Manitoba, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia have all agreed to end student loan interest. The DSU argues that student loan interests punish lower- and middle-class income families and that eliminating student loan interest would help boost the economy as people can spend their money on goods and services rather than their debts. A study by RBC suggests many graduates hold off on buying a home, getting married, having children, and say they don't have enough money saved up for emergencies because of their debts.