On March 25, 2021, alleged drug dealer Michael Taff was arrested and his Langley home was searched by Ridge Meadows RCMP. That search resulted in the seizure of:

• Two kilograms of pre-packaged alleged methamphetamine (approximately 18,940 doses)
• 1.5 kg of alleged high-concentration fentanyl in brick form (approximately 14,435 doses)
• A Kel-Tec Sub-2000 pistol calibre carbine
• A .22 calibre Luger pistol
• A Grendel P30 .22 calibre pistol
• More than $7,000 in cash

This arrest, search and seizure by the Street Enforcement Unit (SEU) is the culmination of an investigation into the illegal drug trade that began in October 2020, said RCMP Const. Julie Klaussner.

Michael Taff now faces seven counts of possession of a firearm contrary to a firearm prohibition order, three counts of storage of a firearm contrary to regulation, and driving while prohibited, along with a series of drug trafficking offences.

While I applaud the RCMP for arresting a drug dealer in possession of illegal guns contrary to a firearm prohibition order, my question today is the same as it is for every other case where I document repeat offenders violating their firearm prohibition orders:

When will our government fix Canada’s failed and broken firearm prohibition order system?

 

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Justice Minister David Lametti: Canada’s Firearm Prohibition Order system is broken. When will you introduce legislation to track, trace and check on violent criminals with Firearm Possession Orders?

Michael Taff is the latest example of how Canada’s Firearm Prohibition Order system is broken and must be fixed.

Common sense dictates our scarce police resources should be devoted to those individuals who pose the greatest risk to public safety, yet these are the people Canada’s legislators and police totally ignore.

People with a history of violent offences are a proven danger to public safety, yet these are the people our government refuses to check on or track.

• No police agency in Canada tracks individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders registered against them.
• There is no legal requirement for police to track individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders registered against them or routinely check on them to ensure compliance.
• There is no legal requirement for individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders to notify police when they move to a new residence. Police have no idea where these people are.

 

Contact the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Public Safety

If you, like me, want to see violent criminal offenders tracked and checked on to ensure they are abiding by all of their conditions of release, including Firearm Prohibition Orders, please write Justice Minister David Lametti and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and demand they introduce legislation to implement these reforms immediately.

The Honourable David Lametti
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8
Email the Minister of Justice

The Honourable Bill Blair
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons
Ottawa, Canada K1A 0A6
Email the Minister of Public Safety