Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty reviewed his government's performance and future initiatives on everything from gun laws, school reforms and power generation in an exclusive interview with CTV's Ken Shaw on Sunday.

McGuinty said governments at all levels have been ineffective in preventing violent crime and keeping guns off the streets.

"We've got to get tougher, specifically on handgun crime," McGuinty said.

In a broad-ranging interview, the premier discussed gun crime, and the tough new measures he would like to see as law.

"I don't care if it's loaded or not," McGuinty said. "If you're in possession of a handgun we should slap you really hard with a criminal sanction."

However, he does not have the legislative power to make these changes. That authority rests with the federal government.

But McGuinty said tougher laws are only part of the solution for violent crime. He says supporting police forces and keeping youths in school are some ways to help reduce crime rates.

The premier cited recent reforms to Ontario's secondary school system as evidence of the province's initiative to tackle the crime problem.

He also said the one billion dollar investment in schools, new teachers and curriculum are about helping to prepare students for the future.

McGuinty said the changes send a message to students: "We want to engage you. We want you to be enthusiastic. We want to create learning for you that is relevant."

The biggest policy challenge ahead for McGuinty's government may be finding new sources of electricity to meet the province's growing demands.

"Now we need to have an important conversation about our power needs in 2015," McGuinty said.

A recent review of Ontario's energy needs suggested the province needed to invest more in nuclear power generation. It is a proposal the government seems ready to pursue, despite concerns about cost overruns and radioactive waste.

"I'd love to say it's all going to be wind and it's all going to be solar, but I don't live in that world, I live in this one. We've got to make some difficult decisions today to satisfy our needs tomorrow."

McGuinty said, for the good of the province, he is ready to meet the controversy energy policy can generate.

"I could duck it … But I think it's really important that I send a signal to the international investment community that yes if you invest today you'll have reliable power in Ontario in 2015 and 2020."