Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has introduced legislation that would put a freeze on importing, buying or selling handguns.

"We are capping the number of handguns in this country," Trudeau said.

The regulations to halt the growth of personally owned handguns are expected to be enacted in autumn.

"It will be illegal to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada," the prime minister said. Families of shooting victims joined him at a press conference in Ottawa.

Canada already plans to ban 1500 types of military-style firearms and offer a mandatory buyback programme that will begin at the end of the year. Trudeau said if someone wants to keep their assault weapon it will be made inoperable.

Justin Trudeau greets Suzanne Laplante Edward, mother of Anne-Marie Edward, who was killed in the Montreal massacre at Ecole Polytechnique. Photo / Patrick Doyle via AP

Canada has already expanded background checks.

Trudeau has long had plans to enact tougher gun laws but the introduction of the new measure comes after mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, last month.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino called the legislation the most significant step Canada has taken in a generation.

"Countries that do a good job of controlling guns do a good job of controlling gun violence," Mendicino said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Bill Blair, Minister of Emergency Preparedness, said Canada is very different from the United States.

"In Canada, gun ownership is a privilege, not a right," Blair said. "This is a principle that differentiates ourselves from many other countries in the world, notably our colleagues and friends to the south."

Canada has had far fewer mass shootings than the US in part because of a lack of easy access to guns, though the US population also is far larger than Canada's.

Justin Trudeau announces new gun control legislation in Ottawa. Photo / Patrick Doyle, The Canadian Press via AP

Blair noted guns are often smuggled in from the US, which he noted has one of the largest small arms arsenals in the world.

The Government plans to fight gun smuggling and trafficking by increasing criminal penalties, providing more tools to investigate firearms crimes and strengthening border measures. Trudeau said increased funding already helped border officials double the amount of smuggled guns confiscated at the US border.

The Government also said the bill would also allow for the removal of gun licenses from people involved in acts of domestic violence or criminal harassment, such as stalking.

The bill would create a new "red flag" law allowing courts to require that people considered a danger to themselves or others surrender their firearms to police. The Government said the measure would guard the safety of those applying through the process, often women in danger of domestic abuse, by protecting their identities.

The Government said it will require rifle magazines to be permanently altered so they can never hold more than five rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines under the Criminal Code.

"Canada can teach us a lot," tweeted Bruce Heyman, a former US ambassador to Canada under the Obama administration.

Trudeau said his government recognises the vast majority of Canadians who own guns are responsible but the level of gun violence is unacceptable. Mendicino said they are aware the announcement could lead to a rush to buy guns before the law is enacted and urged Parliament to pass it as soon as possible.

The new measures are assured of passing in Canada's Parliament as the ruling Liberals and leftist opposition New Democrats have enough votes.

Pierre Poilievre, who is running to be the leader of the Conservative party, said law-abiding gun owners should be respected and dangerous criminals should be jailed.

"Other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives," Trudeau said. "We need less gun violence.

"We cannot let the gun debate become so polarised that nothing gets done. We cannot let that happen in our country. This is about freedom. People should be free to go to the supermarket, their school, or their place of worship without fear."

- Rob Gillies of AP