Prime Minister Mark Carney says he has confidence in his public safety minister despite the Conservatives calling for Gary Anandasangaree’s resignation over a leaked conversation with his tenant.
“I have confidence in the minister who is doing important work,” Carney told reporters at a news conference at the United Nations on Tuesday.
Carney was asked about an audio recording of the conversation in which the minister appeared to question the effectiveness of the Liberals’ gun buyback program and also suggested he would personally compensate the gun owner if he felt he wasn’t receiving fair payment from the government.
Anandasangaree suggested that the gun owner shouldn’t worry about being arrested for refusing to turn in a banned firearm because municipal police have few resources to devote to such matters.
“I just don’t think municipal police services have the resources to do this,” the minister can be heard saying on the recording.
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights circulated the recording, which was made without the minister’s knowledge.
During question period in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on Carney to fire Anandasangaree.
Carney says he has confidence in public safety minister
The audio was leaked just days before Anandasangaree announced the government will begin its long-awaited gun buyback program for individuals next month with a pilot project based in Cape Breton, N.S.
Conservative leader says Carney should fire public safety minister
Anandasangaree told CBC News Network’s Power & Politics that he has known the tenant for years and that he was “proactively” speaking to the individual ahead of Tuesday’s announcement.
“It was said in the context of two individuals having a conversation about a very sensitive issue that I know was important to the individual I was speaking to,” he told guest host John Paul Tasker.
“The clear point for me is that I’ve always believed in this program. I ran on this program. I have for many years supported guns off our streets.”
Aanandasangree said his suggestion that he would personally compensate the gun owner was “wrong” but that he wasn’t being serious.
‘I’m resolved to do my job’: Public Safety Minister | Power & Politics
“It was the wrong thing to say. It was said in jest. It was said in a private conversation between two individuals that know each other,” he told Tasker.
While announcing the pilot program on Tuesday, Anandasangaree insisted that police forces will be able to do their jobs.
“I have every confidence that law-abiding citizens will ensure compliance with the law,” he said.
“I also have every confidence that law enforcement will be able to do its job and to ensure the implementation of the Criminal Code.”
The minister said that as a rule of law country, it is imperative that all Canadian police are able to enforce the law.
