2023 Commissioner of Firearms Report

RCMP Canadian Firearms Program

Ottawa ON  K1A 0R2

1-800-731-4000 (toll free)
1-613-825-0315 (fax)

Website: Firearms

Email: cfp-pcaf@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Media Relations

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

1-613-843-5999

Statistics that apply for the entire year

Partners

The program works with various domestic and international partners, by:

• providing firearms-related policy support and technical information to Public Safety Canada
• providing technical guidance on firearms-related questions for international, cross-border issues to the Canada Border Services Agency and Global Affairs Canada
• supporting the Department of Justice and Public Safety Canada on legal policy development in firearms-related criminal law
• supporting Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada on firearms legislation and related issues that are of particular interest to Indigenous Peoples
• collaborating with municipal, provincial and territorial law enforcement agencies on investigations leading to prosecution of individuals involved in the smuggling, trafficking and criminal use of firearms
• working with international partners, including law enforcement agencies from the United States and INTERPOL, to help reduce the illegal movement of firearms across borders and sharing of the Firearms Reference Table with 196 countries

New and improved firearms licence cards

Starting in January 2023, firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence cards were given a different look and contain enhanced security features.

The Canadian Firearms Program was honoured to receive, with the Canadian Bank Note Company, a 2023 Élan Award for manufacturing excellence from the International Card Manufacturers Association for the new Possession and Acquisition Licence card. Élan Awards recognize best card design and technological innovation internationally.

Update of the Range Design and Construction Guidelines

In July 2023, the program published updated Range Design and Construction Guidelines. The guidelines explain the minimal acceptable levels of design and construction standards for handgun, shotgun and rifle ranges that a Chief Firearms Officer uses in their assessment to issue a range approval. Any person who wishes to operate a shooting range must receive approval under section 29(1) of the Firearms Act.

The guidelines are based on historical evidence, scientific data generated from trials and considered opinion. They provide appropriate ballistic and statistical calculations for the purpose of providing reasonable and acceptable levels of range safety. Range safety requirements are developed to mitigate risk by identifying and assessing hazards associated with target shooting, and developing and implementing controls to reduce or eliminate those hazards.

To obtain a copy of the guidelines, clients can email: shootingrange-champsdetir@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

The public may obtain more information about shooting clubs and ranges at: https://rcmp.ca/en/firearms/shooting-clubs-and-ranges.

The program continues to modernize its services

The Canadian Firearms Digital Services Solution Project team was honored with the Excellence in Building Services for the Users Award at the Digital Government Community Awards 2023 for its outstanding work in improving online services for Canadian Firearms Program clients.

In addition to the online services made available in 2022 that allow Canadians to apply online for an Authorization to Transport and a Possession and Acquisition Licence, in December 2023, the Canadian Firearms Program introduced new services to its user-friendly online portal and case management system.

Through MyCFP Portal, individuals can now also:

• apply for a Minor's Licence
• seek a Photo Waiver or Fee Waiver, if applicable
• apply for a firearms licence even if they are not residents of Canada, or require a letter of good conduct
• seek a licence under the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms)

The "MyCFP Inbox" feature was also introduced in 2023, for individuals who have submitted a firearms licence application online. This system allows new online applicants to send messages to the Canadian Firearms Program or receive and reply to "CFP correspondence", like requests for additional information, by connecting to their MyCFP account.

In October 2023, a digital tool was made available to select Firearms Safety Instructors allowing them to report Safety Course Report results online. The Canadian Firearms Program will expand this service to more instructors and jurisdictions in 2024.

These new features support the Canadian Firearms Program's commitment to improving our clients' experience by providing services that are simple, modern and efficient, and strengthen public safety.

It takes less time to process first-time client applications for a firearms licence submitted online using the MyCFP portal than applications submitted by mail. Online applications require fewer follow-ups — less than 10% of online applications are incomplete and more than 25% of paper applications require the program to request missing information from a client.

In 2023, a new multi-factor authentication feature was also enabled for clients using GCKey to access the Canadian Firearms Program's online services. This includes the MyCFP Portal, Individual Web Services, Business Web Services and Police/Public Agency Web Services. This feature elevates the protection of personal information, provides an extra layer of security from cyberattacks and will help prevent unauthorized access to the GCKey-enabled services.

Bill C-21 receives Royal Assent

On December 15, 2023, Bill C-21 received Royal Assent.

Several measures immediately came into force, including:

• changes to the Firearms Act regarding restrictions on handgun transfers that were first implemented by regulations in 2022
• changes to the definition of a prohibited firearm
• a requirement for an individual to have a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence to purchase a cartridge magazine domestically
• a new "red flag" law, allowing anyone to make an application to a court for an emergency weapons prohibition order to immediately remove firearms, for up to 30 days, from an individual who may pose a danger to themselves or others
• an increase in the maximum penalty of imprisonment for firearms smuggling and trafficking

Additional information about Bill C-21 can be found at: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/frrms/c21-en.aspx.

The Canadian Firearms Program will continue to support and provide information to firearms owners, businesses, Chief Firearms Officers, and police services about the legislative changes and what they mean for each of these groups.

National Day Against Gun Violence

Canada observed the first National Day Against Gun Violence this year. This day to honour the victims of firearms violence, increase awareness and encourage Canadians to come together to find solutions, will be held on the first Friday of June each year.

Overseeing firearms licensing and registration

Firearms licensing and registration are the program's public-facing responsibility. These services allow for individual Canadians and businesses, including manufacturers, retail stores, shooting ranges and museums to apply for licences (to possess, carry, buy, sell or display firearms and/or ammunition) and registration certificates.

Chief Firearms Officers are responsible for overseeing certain aspects of the Firearms Act in their provincial and territorial jurisdictions, and have discretionary authority to:

• approve and refuse licensing applications for individuals and businesses
• approve and refuse Authorizations to Transport and Authorizations to Carry firearms
• approve shooting clubs and ranges
• conduct inspections of businesses and shooting ranges
• monitor the continuous eligibility of firearms licensees
• revoke licences, authorizations and approvals

Chief Firearms Officers are responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course.

The Registrar is responsible for overseeing certain aspect of the Firearms Act for all provinces and territories, and has authority to:

• approve and refuse registration and transfer applications for individuals and businesses
• approve and refuse carrier licence applications
• issue and refuse licence verification requests
• provide technical support for the verification of firearms
• issue, refuse and revoke designations for firearm verifiers
• verify accuracy of firearms classification information
• process firearms description change requests
• process requests for deactivation, destruction, export and antique status
• issue Public Agency Identification Numbers and process public agency firearm applications and inventories

As of December 31, 2023, Canada had:

• 2,352,504 valid Possession and Acquisition Licences and 12,222 valid Minor's Licences (Table 1)
• 1,296,221 registered firearms — only restricted and prohibited firearms must be registered (Table 10)
• 4,036 licensed firearms businesses, not including museums and carriers
  • Of these, 1,658 businesses were licensed to sell only ammunition (Table 13)

The tables that follow include data on licensing.

Table 2 provides a breakdown of Possession and Acquisition Licences year over year, since 2019.

In 2023, the Canadian Firearms Program issued 489,389 Possession and Acquisition Licences (new and renewed) and new Minor's Licences (Table 3).

In 2023, the Canadian Firearms Program issued 488,343 individual licences, including new licences and renewals for Possession and Acquisition Licences and new Minor's Licences (Table 4).

Firearms fall into one of three classes, as defined in section 84(1) of the Criminal Code:

• Non-restricted firearms — typically shotguns and rifles
• Restricted firearms — predominantly handguns
• Prohibited firearms — certain handguns and fully automatic or converted automatic firearms

In 2023, there were 1,560,304 Possession and Acquisition Licences with non-restricted privileges, 752,002 with restricted privileges, and 40,188 with prohibited privileges (Table 5).

In 2023, there were 920 firearms licence applications refused for various public safety reasons (Tables 6 and 7). Under the Firearms Act, Chief Firearms Officers are authorized to refuse an application for a firearms licence based on their assessment of the applicant's risk to public safety.

As part of the Canadian Firearms Program's mandate to promote public safety, firearms licence applicants are screened to assess their eligibility to possess a firearms licence. After a firearms licence is issued, continuous eligibility screening is conducted over the term of the licence. Information of concern that is brought to the attention of a Chief Firearms Officer may bring an individual's eligibility to hold a licence into question. That individual might then be subject to review.

Under the Firearms Act, Chief Firearms Officers are authorized to revoke a firearms licence based on their assessment of the licence holder's risk to public safety. There were 3,127 firearms licences revoked in 2023 (Tables 8 and 9). Similar to licence application refusals, an individual may challenge a licence revocation by applying to a provincial court for a reference hearing, unless the revocation is the result of a court-ordered firearms prohibition. As a result, some of these revocations may have been referred to, or overturned by, the courts since the initial revocation.

All restricted and prohibited firearms in Canada possessed by individuals or businesses must be registered. As of December 31, 2023, there were 1,296,221 restricted or prohibited firearms registered to individuals or businesses in Canada (Tables 10 and 11).

The Registrar of Firearms has the authority to refuse firearm registration applications and revoke registration certificates based on a failure to meet the eligibility criteria under the Firearms Act. In 2023, no firearm registration applications were refused and 8,774 firearm registration certificates were revoked (Table 12).

Under the Firearms Act, firearms licence holders are responsible for renewing their licences prior to expiry. The Canadian Firearms Program facilitates this process by sending renewal notices to licensees prior to the expiry of their current licence. A total of 364,413 individual Possession and Acquisition Licences expired in 2023 (Chart 1). There were 60,775 expired licences with a restricted or prohibited firearm registered to them at the time of expiration. Of these expired licences, 56,573 licence holders renewed them, but 4,202 licence holders did not (Chart 2).

Under section 89 of the Firearms Act, every court, judge, or justice that makes, varies, or revokes a firearms prohibition order must notify the Chief Firearms Officer in their jurisdiction. Firearms licence applicant screening includes checking whether an applicant is subject to a prohibition order. A prohibition order prevents an individual from legally possessing a firearm for a specified period of time and results in the refusal of a firearms licence application or the revocation of a firearms licence. As of December 31, 2023, there were 511,717 individuals prohibited from possessing firearms (Chart 3).

Reporting on Bill C-71

Bill C-71 updated several aspects of the firearms legislation and received Royal Assent in 2019.

Starting in 2022, individuals and businesses transferring a non-restricted firearm are required to first obtain a reference number from the Registrar of Firearms (the Registrar). By issuing this reference number, the Registrar is confirming the validity of the firearms licence of the person receiving the firearm (a reference number may be obtained through the Canadian Firearms Program's web services portals). The Registrar does not collect any information on the non-restricted firearm being transferred.

Starting in 2021, licensed owners of registered firearms must apply to a Chief Firearms Officer for an Authorization to Transport a restricted or prohibited firearm to any place other than to (a) an approved shooting club or shooting range within the owner's province of residence, or (b) to the firearm's place of storage after purchase.

Maintaining national firearm safety training standards

To be licensed to acquire firearms in Canada, individuals must pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course before applying for a Possession and Acquisition Licence. The Canadian Firearms Safety Course is designed to apply to the broadest possible spectrum of novice firearms users; as an introductory safety course, it is intended for all new firearms users.

The course emphasizes safe storage, display, transportation, handling and use of firearms but safety depends on more than just safe physical actions. Safe handling must include greater knowledge of the firearms themselves, ammunition and the laws and regulations related to them.

Individuals who wish to acquire restricted firearms must also pass the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course.

The Canadian Firearms Program is responsible for the continued development, implementation, and evaluation of national firearms safety standards, and the content of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course. Feedback on courses is received regularly by the provinces and territories, national organizations with an ongoing interest in firearms safety and firearms instructors from across Canada.

Promoting compliance by firearms businesses

Businesses form an important part of the Canadian Firearms Program's client base. A business, museum or organization that manufactures, sells, possesses, handles, displays, or stores firearms or ammunition must possess a valid firearms business licence. Employees who handle firearms for these businesses must also possess valid Possession and Acquisition Licences for the class of firearms being handled, and be listed as employees on the business licence. All restricted and prohibited firearms in a business inventory must be registered. Periodic business inspections are performed to verify safe and lawful business practices, including firearms storage and display. As of December 31, 2023, there were 4,036 firearms businesses in Canada licensed under the Firearms Act (Table 13).

National Weapons Enforcement Support

The National Weapons Enforcement Support Team offers direct support to investigators on all aspects of firearms investigations and prosecutions, and on intelligence sharing with respect to the illegal movement and criminal use of firearms. It provides expert opinion evidence to the court and support to Crown attorneys on firearms law and its application. The team also partners with the Canada Border Services Agency to investigate and intercept illegal firearms entering Canada through border crossings, and partnered with Global Affairs Canada to investigate international firearms sales. In addition to domestic law enforcement partners, the team regularly liaises with international agencies, such as United States Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, on cross-border smuggling and investigations.

In 2023, the team responded to over 9,500 service calls from Canadian and international law enforcement agencies, regulatory partners or Crown attorneys, which represented a 150% increase since additional funding was received in 2019 from the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence as part of the government's Gang Violence Prevention and Intervention Investments.

In more than 280 sessions across the country, the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team trained 7,018 individuals resulting in a 98% jump in participants and a 96% increase in training sessions since 2019. This advanced training for front-line law enforcement and Crown attorneys, and directly supported public safety.

Firearms tracing

The Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre assists front-line policing by providing an extensive firearms tracing service for Canadian, United States and international law enforcement agencies and is the only national program that traces firearms domestically and internationally.

For all trace requests, the tracing centre investigates the history of a firearm, from its manufacture or introduction into commerce by the importer through the distribution chain (wholesalers and retailers) to identify the last known owner or business. The centre also liaises with various international law enforcement partners, including the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and INTERPOL's Integrated Weapons and Explosives Tracking System.

Firearm tracing provides strategic benefits in the form of linking criminal use of firearms to specific vendors, identifying trafficking routes and patterns. Tracing:

• provides linkages between a suspect and a firearm
• flags potential traffickers
• helps identify local, provincial and international firearms crime patterns
• produces invaluable investigative leads
• provides law enforcement decision makers and government officials with accurate statistical data

Once again this year, the numbers demonstrate that investments in the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre are resulting in the origins of more firearms being traced, in support of trafficking, smuggling and other firearms crime investigations.

In 2023, 6,337 traces were completed by the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre, a 26% increase compared to 2022.

The tracing centre also trains front-line police officers and specialized enforcement units on the strategic and tactical benefits of firearms tracing and how it helps to solve crime. It can point the way to other crimes and criminals, sometimes in unexpected way.

Specialized Firearms Support Services

The Specialized Firearms Support Services unit is a centre of expertise for the identification and description of firearms in Canada. The unit is regularly called on to provide technical firearms information, advice and training to domestic and international governments and police services. The unit provides:

• overall management and maintenance of the Firearms Reference Table
• digital photography of firearms and prohibited devices
• delivery of training on firearm identification and firearm safety
• firearm inspections and production of reports and affidavits
• support of reference hearings and court proceedings
• maintenance of the national firearms collection
• firearm destruction
• domestic and international law enforcement agencies and government departments assistance for firearm identification and other technical support

The team prepares and maintains the Firearms Reference Table, that represents a global centre of expertise for the identification and description of firearms in Canada.

The Firearms Reference Table is a comprehensive, single-source reference tool that helps identify and describe firearms. The reference table is used by domestic and international law enforcement agencies, including 196 INTERPOL member countries. A version of the reference table is also available to the public in Portable Document Format.

The Firearms Reference Table is an administrative document tool, not a legal instrument. The Specialized Firearms Support Services unit maintains the table by conducting technical assessments of firearms based on firearm classifications set out in the Criminal Code and supporting regulations; the Firearms Reference Table is the most comprehensive and systematic firearms reference database in existence worldwide.

The reference table contains more than 200,000 individual records. In 2023, 3,527 new records were added and 522 records were updated.

In 2023, Specialized Firearms Support Services continued its ongoing role of developing and delivering firearm courses to various law enforcement partners across Canada, providing in-class sessions and supporting workshops for RCMP members. Between in-person and online, over 2,000 individuals received specialized firearms training.

Firearms Internet Investigations Support

Firearms Internet Investigations Support conducts open-source internet investigations to assist Chief Firearms Officers in assessing the eligibility for someone to hold a firearms licence.

Firearms Internet Investigations Support also works with law enforcement agencies at the municipal, regional, provincial/territorial, federal and international levels to assist in ongoing law enforcement firearms investigations.

In 2023, Firearms Internet Investigations Support conducted open-source, internet investigations in response to:

• 62 requests from law enforcement
• 196 requests from Chief Firearms Officers and other regulatory authorities

Mental Health Strategy

Bill C-21 authorized Chief Firearms Officers to issue an Authorization to Transport for the purpose of storage for mental health reasons. A firearms owner experiencing a mental health crisis or similar problem can now be authorized to transport their restricted or prohibited firearm to another licensed person or business for temporary storage and safekeeping, helping to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

The Canadian Firearms Program is committed to developing additional tools to promote national consistency and better support Chief Firearms Officers' decision-making when it comes to mental-health related investigations and their assessment of an individual's eligibility to obtain or hold a firearms licence when mental health is a consideration.

Bill C-21

The Canadian Firearms Program will prepare to implement other measures in Bill C-21 that are expected to come into force through Orders in Council, including new licence revocation authorities and the "yellow flag" licence suspension regime.

The CFP will continue to provide firearms owners with the information they need through our website at: https://www.rcmp.ca/en/firearms. Public Safety Canada's website provides additional information on what Bill C-21 is and what it means: A comprehensive strategy to address gun violence and strengthen gun laws in Canada (publicsafety.gc.ca).

Mass Casualty Commission

The RCMP and the Canadian Firearms Program will continue to address the Mass Casualty Commission's recommendations and provide updates on the implementation of the recommendations and next steps.

Inquiry into the Fatality of Lionel Desmond

The Canadian Firearms Program looks forward to the final report of the Desmond Fatality Inquiry, which is anticipated to be released in 2024.

Northern Services Review

The Canadian Firearms Program will complete its Northern Services Review in 2024.

Additional territorial consultations will inform the identification of gaps and opportunities to improve communications, services and delivery models.

Canadian Firearms Digital Services Solution

Modernization efforts will continue in 2024 with more services moving online, including an expansion of Safety Course Report Portal, and applications for shooting clubs and ranges, businesses and carriers.

By 2026, the objective is to have most paper-based applications and existing online services migrated to the new system.