"You don't need an AR-15 to shoot a deer," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a press conference in Ottawa. "Thus, with immediate effect, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military grade assault weapons in this country."
Police said the shooter had several semi-automatic handguns and at least two semi-automatic rifles, one of which was described by witnesses as a military-style assault weapon.
"These weapons were designed for one purpose, and one purpose, to kill the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time. There is no use and no room for such weapons in Canada" said Trudeau.
The ban takes effect immediately, but the disposal of the weapons will be subject to a two-year amnesty period. Trudeau said that some form of compensation would also be put in place, but firearms can also be exported and sold after obtaining an appropriate export permit.
Trudeau said that "thoughts and prayers" for the victims of mass shooting were no longer enough and that is why his government acted.
The Nova Scotia shooter used a replica of a police car and an RCMP uniform to pretend to be a police officer when he killed people he knew and strangers, police said. He was fatally shot by officers.
Of the 22 people killed, 13 were killed and nine died in house fires, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced on Tuesday.
The RCMP said the shooter, Gabriel Wortman, 51, also killed or injured animals and pets he found in homes.
Police believe Wortman acted alone in the arson and arson attacks.
The gunman did not have a firearms license and only one weapon was found in Canada, police said.
Last week, the RCMP announced that its officers had expanded their investigation to the United States, but would not give details on the nature of their leads. Police say they believe the gunman acquired at least some of his weapons in the United States.
Legislation had been in the works for months after Trudeau promised in his re-election campaign in late 2019 to tighten gun control, especially for cities hard hit by gang violence.
Trudeau broke his 2015 election promise to restrict sales of assault weapons to Canada.
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