Prime Minister Mark Carney will not keep an engraved pistol gifted to him by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the NATO summit in Ankara, the government confirmed. The firearm, along with ammunition, was presented to all NATO leaders attending the summit. Global Affairs Canada stated that the gun is being transferred to the RCMP for decommissioning, and the ammunition remained in Turkey.
Gift handling follows Canadian laws
“All official gifts are handled in accordance with applicable Canadian laws, security requirements, and government policies,” said an unattributed statement from Global Affairs Canada. Under Canada’s Conflict of Interest Act, office holders, including the prime minister, cannot keep gifts worth over $1,000 and must declare gifts over $200 given as a matter of courtesy or protocol to the conflict of interest commissioner. Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, was found guilty of violating the act for accepting a luxury vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island and later fined for failing to declare sunglasses worth over $200.
British PM reveals gift details
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer disclosed the existence of Erdoğan’s unexpected gift while speaking to reporters on his flight home. He said the pistols were inscribed with each recipient’s name and came with a box of ammunition. Starmer noted he had to leave his gift in Turkey because importing it into Britain would be illegal, despite a letter from Erdoğan lifting export controls on the weapons.
Potential home in Canadian museum
The pistol given to Carney might find a home elsewhere in Canada after being rendered inoperable, according to a senior government source who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Following guidance from Canadian authorities, the government will look to find appropriate placement for the gift, including at a Canadian museum,” the source said. The Canadian government did not immediately provide details of the weapon, such as the model, but firearm imports into Canada are strictly regulated, and bringing new handguns into the country is illegal.
