TORONTO - Federal New Democrats say a spate of shootings in Toronto shows the Harper government's stance on gun control has failed the city.
NDP members of parliament Olivia Chow and Andrew Cash said today that cuts to border services and youth programs have had disastrous consequences for community safety.
Chow pointed to cuts made to youth gang prevention programs, saying they don't make sense in light of the recent string of shootings.
Toronto has been rocked by several fatal shootings in recent weeks, including one at the downtown Eaton Centre and another at a Little Italy cafe.
Cash questioned why border services are being cut when Toronto police Chief Bill Blair has estimated 70 per cent of guns in the city come in illegally from the United States.
The MPs say the government should reverse border services cuts, provide stable funding for youth programs and come up with a strategy to deal with gun smuggling.
