OTTAWA -- The federal Liberals are renewing their multimillion-dollar program to fight gang violence and gun crime.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Monday the government is earmarking $390 million over the next five years for provinces and territories.

Making the announcement in Mississauga, Ont., Mendicino said the money would go toward a variety of initiatives, including support for police and prevention programs.

"These federal funds will be distributed to the provinces and territories for the purpose of giving law enforcement the additional people resources and supports that they need to get the job done, and to get the job done safely," he said.

The Liberals see the fund as a pillar of their efforts to reduce gun-related violence, which also includes stronger measures to address cross-border gun trafficking and legislation to place stricter controls on handguns and assault-style firearms.

The House of Commons public safety committee, which is examining the gun-control bill clause by clause, has approved an amendment that would ban assault-style firearms once the bill comes into force.

The definition of assault-style firearm includes a gun that is not a handgun that discharges centrefire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner and that was originally designed with a detachable magazine with a capacity of six cartridges or more.

Conservative MPs on the committee voted against the amendment. One Tory MP said it left open the possibility that hunting rifles and shotguns would be banned in future. The Liberals deny targeting such commonly used guns.

The legislative ban would not apply retroactively. However, the Liberals outlawed some 1,500 firearm models and variants they consider assault-style firearms through a May 2020 regulatory ban, which remains in effect.

In November 2017, the federal government announced about $327 million in funding over five years to tackle an increase in gun violence and gang activity in Canada.

Quebec has used the fund for Operation Centaur, a provincewide initiative aimed at disrupting firearms trafficking and preventing crime.

British Columbia has put some of the money toward the province's Organized Crime Agency, a police organization that fights gun smuggling, drug trafficking and other kinds of organized crime.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2023.