MP Marco Mendicino and MP Glen Motz take a shot at gun regulations on their ‘blind date’

Thestar.com
February 14, 2019
Claire Floody

The second season of TVO’s Political Blind Date Series begins tonight with a triggering debate on an topic that’s important to many Canadians: Gun control.

The TV series, which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m., sends politicians out on a “date” to discuss some of the most divisive issues of the day.

Marco Mendicino, Liberal MP and former Crown Prosecutor from Toronto, squares off with Glen Motz, Conservative MP and former Police Inspector from Medicine Hat, Alberta, about Canada’s relationship with guns.

Tonight’s episode features Liberal MP and former crown prosecutor Marco Mendicino unpack Bill C71 with Conservative MP and former police officer Glen Motz.

“He’s such a nice guy, I’m surprised he’s a liberal,” Motz jokes.

Mendicino says the Liberal government presented Bill C71 in hopes of creating stricter gun regulations and keeping illegal firearms off the street. But Motz argues that it will only affect law-abiding gun owners, causing them more headaches.

“We are not ending violence by banning firearms,” Motz said. “All the laws in the world will not save everybody, unfortunately.”

Motz takes Mendicino to a firearm safety course in Medicine Hat, Alberta to experience the care and control his consitutents exhibit towards firearms. The date ends on a shooting range where Mendocino refuses to fire a gun.

When it’s Mendocino’s turn, he brings Motz to his home city of Toronto to see the tragic effects and impacts gun violence can have on a neighbourhood. They speak with mother Stacey King and visit the Scarborough playground where her young girls were shot in crossfire this past June.

“Mothers and fathers want to know that when their kids go to the playground -- or go to school or getting on the subway -- you want to know that they’re okay,” Mendocino said. “And tragically they’re not.”

The second season features politicians from across Canada who explore issues that may play key roles in this year’s federal election.