Horizontal initiatives

Addressing Drug-Impaired Driving (DID) in Canada

Public Safety Canada

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Note: Other government departments (e.g., the Department of Justice) are supporting this federal initiative. However they are not captured in this Horizontal Initiative table as they have not received funding through this initiative.

April 1, 2017

March 31, 2025

The objective of the horizontal initiative is to build law enforcement capacity to enforce new and stronger laws related to drug-impaired driving.

The initiative is designed to follow through on the Government's key objectives of protecting public health, safety and security.

More specifically, the initiative aims to protect public safety on roadways in Canada by equipping law enforcement with the tools, technology and training necessary to enforce the new drug-impaired driving legislation, and by adding to this deterrence through research, public awareness and the development of evidence-based policies.

The federal partner organizations will establish and implement ongoing delivery of this initiative including policy and program development; research and data collection; national public education and awareness activities; and tracking and measurement.

Activities are organized under four key themes:

• Training Development and Delivery;
• Devices and Processing;
• Policy and Program Development; and
• Awareness Campaign.

Governance is provided through an existing Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T) Assistant Deputy Minister level committee on crime prevention and policing to take stock of overall trends and patterns in DID and results of the initiative; and an F/P/T working group, represented by public safety and transportation sector officials and police forces that are responsible for planning and implementing a national plan of resources to build law enforcement training capacity across Canada. The F/P/T Coordinating Committee of Senior Officials led by the Department of Justice is responsible for supporting and developing legal policy options for impaired driving.

Public Safety Canada’s Drug Policy Division provides a central coordinating role in tracking key project milestones and in reporting on the Initiative.

The Government is committed to ongoing collaboration and consultation with provincial and territorial partners. In May 2016, the F/P/T Senior Officials Working Group on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation was struck, to enable F/P/T governments to exchange information on important issues about the legalization and regulation of cannabis throughout the consultation, design and implementation of the legislation, regulations, and non-regulatory activities. Supporting F/P/T working groups and committees have also been established to facilitate ongoing engagement in key priority areas, including drug-impaired driving. In addition, existing F/P/T bodies are also considering the implications of drug-impaired driving, including F/P/T Deputy Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety.

$114,393,063

$16,134,342

$71,564,945 as of 2022-23 DRR

N∕A – No renewal

N∕A – No renewal

N∕A – No renewal

N∕A – No renewal

N∕A – No renewal

An Horizontal Evaluation (led by Public Safety Canada) on Addressing Drug-Impaired Driving and Communication is planned for FY 2024 to 2025.

Public Safety Canada

This initiative aims to protect public safety on roadways in Canada by equipping law enforcement with the tools, technology and training necessary to enforce the drug-impaired driving legislation, and by supporting research and data collection, public awareness and the development of evidence-based policies.

Funding agreements between Public Safety Canada and the provinces and territories^{Footnote 1}, will continue in FY 2024 to 2025 to enhance law enforcement capacity through training in the use of approved drug screening devices and standardized field sobriety tests, as well as certification as Drug Recognition Evaluation Experts and the procurement of the approved devices. These agreements also allow provinces and territories to use the funding envelope to conduct public awareness campaigns on drug-impaired driving, support research, and implement new or improved data collection tools.

Public Safety Canada will also continue to fund the study conducted by the Centre on Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) to measure the dose-dependent impacts of edible cannabis products on driving abilities. The results are expected to be released in early 2025. The final results of a similar study on the impacts of smoked cannabis were released in FY 2023 to 2024.

Finally, since FY 2023 to 2024, the Department is funding a study over two years by the University of British Columbia to collect and analyze toxicological data from injured drivers in fifteen hospitals and trauma centres across the country. This data will provide invaluable knowledge to the understanding of trends and patterns in drug-impaired driving, including when cannabis is involved.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The Agency initially committed to train 1,425 border services officers (30% of land border BSO) in the use of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST); which is a battery of three psychophysical tests (divided attention, physical coordination tests) used to determine whether a driver is impaired by a drug and/or alcohol. Of the 1,425 border services officers that the Agency initially committed to train, the CBSA successfully met the training target for year one, certifying 716 officers in the administration of the SFST by the end of fiscal year 2019 to 2020. Another 709 officers were to be trained in FY 2020 to 2021 but due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and health and safety-related concerns with face to face training, as it was necessary to pause the project and re-profile associated funding. The project has now resumed and the CBSA is planning to certify 476 officers in the SFST by the end of FY 2023 to 2024. Training began in April 2023 and to date, 172 officers have been trained. The CBSA is targeting the end of October 2024 for the certification of the remaining 248 officers. This will signify the successful conclusion of the Treasury Board commitment for the CBSA to train 1,425 officers in the administration of the SFST.

In addition to SFST training, the CBSA committed to Approved Drug Screening Equipment (ADSE) for the land border ports of entry. Ongoing evaluation of device suitability for the CBSA operating environment will occur. CBSA continues to feed into the Annual Report on Trends and Patterns on impaired driving in Canada, which is coordinated by Public Safety Canada. In support of reporting, the CBSA’s Integrated Customs Enforcement System (ICES) has been updated to enable reporting on enforcement actions involving drug impaired driving.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

The RCMP has 20 Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) certification events confirmed by provinces for fiscal year 2024 to 2025, each of which can train up to 18 new DREs. There are numerous other certification events available should provinces wish to increase their DRE numbers. The RCMP has also received a new DRE and Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) curriculum from the International Association of Chief of Police, which was released in late 2023.

Kristin McLeod, Director

Drug Policy Division, Public Safety Canada

kristin.mcleod@ps-sp.gc.ca

Theme outcome(s)

Frontline officers are trained and equipped to enforce legislation

Frontline officers have the tools to detect and interdict drug impaired driving

Funding or collaborative arrangements are in place to support the delivery of the initiative

The public is aware of the risks of driving after cannabis use

Not applicable

Public Safety Canada

Canada Border Services Agency

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Total

Addressing Drug-Impaired Driving in Canada

$114,393,063

$16,134,342

Standardized data collection and reporting practices

Percent (%) of provinces and territories (P/Ts)  improve existing or adopting new data collection and reporting practices

100% of P/Ts improve existing or adopt new data collection and reporting practices

March 31, 2021

Percent (%) of standardized data provided by P/Ts

80% of standardized data provided by PTs at the end of initiative

March 31, 2025

Completion of CBSA system updates to track DID entries

100% completion of system changes

March 31, 2021

Officers are trained and equipped to enforce new legislation

Percent (%) of frontline officers trained in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, “Drugs that Impair”, and Oral Fluid Drug Screening Devices

33% of frontline officers trained in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, “Drugs that Impair” and Oral Fluid Drug Screening devices by the end of the initiative

March 31, 2025

Number (#) of border services officers trained in SFST

1,425 CBSA border service officers trained at land border ports of entry by the end of FY 2024 to 2025^{Footnote 2}

March 31, 2021

Number of times Approved Drug Screening Equipment (ADSE) used^{Footnote 3}

500^{Footnote 4}

March 31, 2025

Number of officers trained as Drug Recognition Experts

1,200 active DRE officers at the end of the initiative

March 31, 2025

Well-informed public on the risks, dangers and consequences associated with drug-impaired driving (i.e., deterrent effect)

Percent (%) of Canadians who believe that driving under the influence of cannabis is acceptable

Reduce the number of Canadians who believe that driving under the influence of cannabis is acceptable by 5%

March 31, 2021

Reduce the percentage of Canadians who say they would be likely to accept a ride from someone under the influence of cannabis in the future by 5%

March 31, 2021

Web traffic on Canada.ca/Cannabis DID Page

Increase of 10,000 video views above the baseline by end of year 1

March 31, 2021

Number (#) of impressions on unpaid PS social media platforms

Increase of 300,000 impressions above the baseline over a 3 month period

March 31, 2021

Uptake of downloadable campaign media resources (including posters, downloads, factsheets)

Increase of 5,000 resources distributed and downloaded by the target audience by the end of year 1

March 31, 2021

Number (#) of impressions from earned media activities, such as distribution of pre-written print articles distributed to community newspapers

Achieve 2.5 million impressions of pre-written print articles by the end of year 1

March 31, 2021

Number (#) of digital video views

Achieve 10,000 video views by end of year 1

March 31, 2021

Reduced number of drug-impaired drivers, creating safer roads in Canada

Trends in the percent (%) of respondents to the Canadian Cannabis Survey (and other emerging surveys) who consumed a drug and drove

10% reduction below adjusted baseline in survey respondents who consumed a drug and drove

March 31, 2025

Trends in the percent (%) of respondents to the Canadian Cannabis Survey (and other emerging surveys) who were passengers of drivers who consumed drugs

10% reduction below adjusted baseline in survey respondents who were passengers of drivers who consumed drugs

March 31, 2025

Percent (%) of drug-impaired driving incidents reported by police as a proportion of all impaired driving incidents

10% increase from 2018 baseline^{Footnote 5}

March 31, 2025

Number (#) of referrals by CBSA to police of jurisdiction

10% increase above adjusted baseline by 2021 (adjusted baseline to be established by year 2020)^{Footnote 6}

March 31, 2021

Training Development and Delivery

$79,600,068

$11,136,699

Frontline officers are trained and equipped to enforce legislation

% of frontline officers trained in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

33% of frontline officers

March 31, 2025

Public Safety Canada

Serious and Organized Crime

Training Development and Delivery

$61,783,000

$9,527,651

P/Ts are able to send frontline police officers to training sessions for Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, “Drugs that Impair”, and Oral Fluid Drug Screening Devices

Number (#) of training sessions for Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, “Drugs that Impair”, and Oral Fluid Drug Screening Devices

5 training sessions for Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, “Drugs that Impair”, and Oral Fluid Drug Screening Devices

March 31, 2021

P/Ts are able to certify Drug Recognition Experts

Number (#) of Drug Recognition Experts certified annually

200 Drug Recognition Experts certified each year

March 31, 2023

Internal Services

N/A

$210,487

$42,098

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Canada Border Services Agency

Force Generation

Training Development and Delivery

$3,147,752

(including ongoing)

$218,308

New training, curriculum and course development for enforcement actions at ports of entry related to drug impaired driving (or vehicle operation) at Canada’s borders

Completion of material and pilot course by end 2018

Completion of material and pilot course by end 2018

March 31, 2022

Traveller Facilitation and Compliance Program

Training Development and Delivery

$4,976,718

$0

Buildings and Equipment

Training Development and Delivery

$278,432 (including ongoing)

$37,726

Officers trained and equipped to enforce new legislation

Percent (%) of Border Services officers at land ports of entry trained in SFST

30% by end of FY 2022 to 2023

March 31, 2023^{Footnote 7}

Reduced number of drug-impaired drivers at land ports of entry, improving public safety

Number (#) of suspected drug-impaired drivers intercepted at land ports of entry

10% increase from 2018 baseline^{Footnote 8}

March 31, 2022

Internal Services

N/A

$660,896

$99,201

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

National DRE Office

Training Development and Delivery

$7,953,045^{Footnote 9},^{Footnote 10}

$1,140,841^{Footnote 11}

Training following the IACP guidelines is delivered

Number (#) of DRE training sessions delivered annually

A minimum of 11 DRE training sessions

March 31, 2022

Internal Services

N/A

$589,738

$70,874

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Devices and Processing

$21,751,027

$2,424,611

Frontline officers have the tools to detect and interdict drug impaired driving

Number (#) of training sessions delivered annually on ADSE, SFST and DRE

TBD^{Footnote 12}

March 31, 2025

Public Safety Canada

Serious and Organized Crime

Devices and Processing

$20,336,555

$2,225,006

Number (#) of times the SFST was used

Number (#) of times the SFST was used and the results

1000

March 31, 2025

Number (#) of times the ADSE was used

Number(#) of times the ADSE was used and the results

500

March 31, 2025

Canada Border Services Agency

Traveller Facilitation and Compliance Program

Devices and Processing

$1,414,472

(including ongoing)

$199,605

Number (#) of times the SFST was used

Number (#) of times the SFST was used and the results

120^{Footnote 13}

March 31, 2025

Number (#) of times the ADSE was used

Number(#) of times the ADSE was used and the results

20^{Footnote 14}

March 31, 2025

Policy and Program Development

$9,457,009

$1,776,100

Funding or collaborative arrangements are in place to support the delivery of the initiative

All P/Ts and police jurisdictions have signed funding agreements or collaborative arrangements

100%

March 31, 2021

Public Safety Canada

Serious and Organized Crime

Policy and Program Development

$5,454,480

$1,270,940

P/Ts sign agreements to access the Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime (CPCSOC), and collect and report data

Percent (%) P/Ts reporting against standardized indicators

100% of P/Ts report on standardized indicators

March 31, 2021

Canada Border Services Agency

Traveller Facilitation and Compliance Program

Policy and Program Development

$4,002,529

(including ongoing)

$505,160

The CBSA has developed the necessary policies and procedures to support the Border Services Officers, including Written Collaborative Arrangements with various police agencies

Percent (%) of police jurisdictions for which Written Collaborative Arrangements are signed (jurisdictions signed vs. total number of jurisdictions)

100% of police jurisdictions with Written Collaborative Agreements signed

March 31, 2021

The CBSA has access to reliable data on drug impaired driving

Number (#) of drug-impaired driving offences recorded in the CBSA Integrated Customs Enforcement System

10% increase from 2018 baseline^{Footnote 15}

March 31, 2021

Awareness Campaign

$3,584,959

$796,932

The public is aware of the risks of driving after cannabis use

Percent (%) of Canadians who report driving within two hours of cannabis use

10% below 2018 baseline^{Footnote 16}

March 31, 2025

Public Safety Canada

Crime Prevention

Public Awareness Campaign

$2,657,184

$681,585

The public is aware of the available Canada.ca/Cannabis materials

Percent (%) of web traffic on Canada.ca/Cannabis

Years 1-2: 25% increase in web traffic

Years 3-4: 50% increase in web traffic

March 31, 2021

Raise awareness among Canadian youth that drug-impaired driving is dangerous, illegal and socially unacceptable

Percent (%) of Canadian youth that believe drug-impaired driving is dangerous, illegal and socially unacceptable

5% increase

March 31, 2022

Increase the percentage of parents who have discussed drug-impaired driving with their youth

Percent (%) of parents who have discussed drug-impaired driving with their children

5% increase

March 31, 2022

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Contract and Indigenous Policing Operations Support

Public Awareness Campaign

$927,775^{Footnote 17}, ^{Footnote 18}

$115,347

Youth are engaged in RCMP-led public awareness activities, in support of the PS-led DID public awareness campaign

Number (#) of consultations sessions with youth by RCMP-C&IP to discuss drug-impaired driving dangers and risks

Minimum of 2 consultations per year

March 31, 2022

Awareness products on the dangers of drug-impaired driving are updated

Number (#) of awareness products updated by the RCMP related to dangers of drug-impaired driving

At least one (1) awareness product reviewed or updated each fiscal year

March 31, 2022

RCMP awareness products are informative and helpful

Percent (%) of consulted youth who strongly agreed or agreed that the RCMP awareness products on drug-impaired driving were informative and helpful

80%

March 31, 2022

Theme 1: Training Development and Delivery

Theme 2: Devices and Processing

Theme 3: Policy and Program Development

Theme 4: Awareness Campaign

Subtotal

Internal Services

Total, all themes

Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV)

Public Safety Canada

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Note: Other government departments (e.g. the Department of Justice) are supporting this federal initiative. However, they are not captured in this Horizontal Initiative table as they have not received funding through this initiative.

September 28, 2018

March 31, 2028

These activities deliver on a Budget 2016 Government commitment to take action against gun and gang violence by removing handguns and assault-style firearms from our streets, and for the Minister of Public Safety to work with provincial, territorial and municipal counterparts to develop a strategy on how the federal government can best support communities and law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to make it harder for criminals to obtain and use firearms, and to reduce gun and gang violence.

The ITAAGGV helps to support a variety of strategies to reduce gun crime and criminal gang activities, and is centered around three themes:

• Investing in communities through a grants and contributions program;
• Enhancing federal enforcement capacity within the RCMP and CBSA; and
• Enhancing federal leadership by Public Safety Canada to promote improved data collection, research and information sharing.

RCMP: Is expanding and enhancing existing services by:

• Bolstering investigative firearms support nationwide;
• Leveraging increased capacity to conduct physical firearms inspections;
• Supporting strategic intelligence analysis related to street gangs;
• Prioritizing the use of the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network for gang-related cases;
• Providing anonymous online capability to investigate firearm trafficking and smuggling;
• Enhancing analytical capacity to develop and produce actionable intelligence; and
• Establishing the Criminal Firearms Strategic and Operational Support Services team to coordinate efforts and support initiative partners with tools, strategic analysis, and research related to criminal gun usage and gang violence.

CBSA: Is investing in new technologies and specialized training to better interdict illicit trafficking across the border by:

• Procuring detection technology for international postal processing facilities and major international airport facilities to streamline the inspection of mail and air cargo;
• Constructing facilities and investing in training to increase CBSA’s detector dog team capacity to identify drugs and firearms at ports of entry through less invasive means;
• Investing in IT capabilities to effectively leverage Interpol information to interdict high risk travellers at the earliest point in the continuum; and
• Developing and deploying national training to enhance the CBSA’s effectiveness to identify, detect, and interdict illicit trafficking.

Public Safety Canada will establish and chair an Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) level committee with participation from CBSA and RCMP as the Oversight Committee for the Initiative. The Committee will meet at least twice a year, corresponding with the planning and reporting cycle. Its role is to review the status of the various initiatives and progress made in meeting results targets; direct adjustments if necessary; and provide overall direction to the implementation of the horizontal initiative.

A working group comprising PS, RCMP and CBSA have been working together in the development of the ITAAGGV, including the results measurement strategy. Going forward, partners will ensure that the membership of this group reflects the necessary areas within each organization to speak to programming and results and financial planning and reporting. This group will meet to ensure that systems are in place to support effective horizontal planning and reporting and will support the ADM level Oversight Committee, ensuring that any issues that may affect the performance of the initiative are flagged to ADMs as they arise.

CBSA: $92,856,175 (FY 2018 to 2024) (CBSA funding ends in FY 2024 to 2025)

RCMP^{Footnote 19}: $70,451,787 ($32,084,882 (FY 2018 to 2019 – FY 2022 to 2023) + $38,366,905 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028))

PS: $643,440,835 (FY 2022 to 2023 – FY 2027 to 2028)

CBSA: $48,851,831 (as of March 31, 2023)

RCMP^{Footnote 20}: $39,758,264 (FY 2018 to 2019 – FY 2023 to 2024)

PS^{Footnote 21}: $ 315,197,073 (FY 2018 to 2019 – FY 2023 to 2024)

CBSA: $37,151,659 (as of March 31, 2023)

RCMP^{Footnote 22}: $24,448,471 (FY 2018 to 2019 – FY 2022 to 2023)

PS: $226,460,139 (as of March 31, 2023)

CBSA: N/A

RCMP: FY 2023 to 2024

CBSA: N/A

RCMP^{Footnote 23}: $38,366,905 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

PS^{Footnote 24} : $412,243,762 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

CBSA: N/A

RCMP: N/A

CBSA: N/A

RCMP^{Footnote 25}:  $38,366,905 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

PS : $412,243,762 (FY 2023 to 2024 – FY 2027 to 2028)

CBSA: N/A

RCMP: N/A

PS: N/A

While another horizontal evaluation is not required given that one was recently completed in March 2023, an evaluation on this initiative, specific to Public Safety Canada’s activities, is planned for FY 2027 to 2028.

Public Safety Canada (PS)

PS will continue to provide funding to provinces and territories under the ITAAGGV’s contribution agreement component the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF). This funding will be used to address the issue of gun and gang violence in communities across Canada. Provinces and territories (P/Ts) are responsible for further distributing funding to eligible recipients in their jurisdictions, in order to advance efforts in the priority areas of prevention; intervention; gang exit; outreach and awareness programming; strategy development; training; and enhancing intelligence sharing and law enforcement capacity to combat gun and gang violence. Additionally, Public Safety Canada will continue to enhance federal leadership by developing an integrated, results-based approach to reducing gun and gang violence across Canada, including by launching a national strategy; developing expertise on guns and gangs including linkages to other illicit markets through research projects; as well as improving the collection of national data related to gun and criminal activity in a coordinated approach with partners and the sharing of information and best practices to avoid duplication of efforts by developing a data strategy and administering an annual stakeholder engagement survey.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

CBSA is investing in new technologies and specialized training to better interdict illicit trafficking across the border by: procuring detection technology for international postal processing facilities and major International airport facilities to streamline the inspection of mail and air cargo; construct facilities and invest in training to increase CBSA’s detector dog team capacity to identify drugs and firearms at ports of entry through less invasive means; invest in its technology capability to effectively interdict high-risk travellers at the earliest point in the continuum; develop and deploy national training to enhance CBSA effectiveness to identify, detect, and interdict illicit gun trafficking.

The initiative is broken down into 6 sub-initiatives:

1. Intercept Illicit Guns in Postal Stream (Postal);
2. Detecting Firearms -Detector Dogs Service (DDS);
3. Construction & maintenance of an All-Weather Facility Training Facility (AWF);
4. Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification - Interpol Interface;
5. Advanced Vehicles Concealment Techniques Course (AVC);
6. Air Cargo Security.

As this is the final year of the initiative, many of these initiatives have been fully implemented.

The FY 2024 to 2025 planning highlights will be as follows:

1. Completing the AWF Project, and finalizing the benefit tracking mechanism;
2. Develop and deploy a novel pallet x-ray technology solution, and implement all remaining detection technology solutions in the air mode; and
3. Continue to monitor and maintain the Detector Dog Service firearms teams, AVC training course, and detection technology deployed in the air mode and postal stream.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

For FY 2024 to 2025, the RCMP will continue to leverage ITAAGGV funding to increase capacities that bolster firearm investigations, support and services to law enforcement, training opportunities, intelligence development and analysis focused on the “guns and gangs” priority.

The Canadian Firearms Program’s (CFP) National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST) will continue to expand its intelligence and information-sharing networks to enhance enforcement efforts through working groups to combat illicit firearms activity. Partnerships with the firearms industry will continue to be sought, with outreach and training planned on a national and international scale in an effort to disrupt firearm-related crime. The development of an online reporting mechanism where industry personnel can report suspicious purchasing activity is also underway. NWEST will continue efforts to combat domestic and international firearms trafficking by supporting various Joint Force Operations (JFOs), networking and intelligence-sharing with domestic and international law enforcement partners, CBSA and Canada Post. To bolster firearms investigative support nationally, the NWEST is assessing the development of accredited courses for firearms investigations and is planning to increase the number of individuals receiving training. This training will contribute to increasing investigative competence and capacity among officers responsible for investigating firearm-related crime. NWEST and Firearm Operational Enforcement Support (FOES) analysts will continue to enhance analytical capacity, to develop and produce actionable intelligence and identify linkages between organized crime groups and firearms by implementing industry-leading software to produce intelligence products.

The CFP’s Specialized Firearms Support Services (SFSS) section will continue to develop and maintain the Firearms Reference Table (FRT) to ensure it remains the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of firearms descriptions and classifications. SFSS will track emerging trends in the firearms industry and develop subject matter expertise on these trends in order to support law enforcement and government inquiries and to deliver training to partner agencies on these subjects.

The CFP’s Firearms Internet Investigation Support Unit (FIISU) will continue to contribute to firearms investigation requests from law enforcement across Canada, while increasing its efforts to collaborate with RCMP and external partners. The FIISU will continue to provide outreach to law enforcement partners to support on-line investigations across Canada and the US.

The CFP’s Criminal Firearms Strategic & Operational Support Services section (CFSOSS) will continue to pursue initiatives that bolster firearms license eligibility screening of high-risk individuals in partnership with provincial Chief Firearms Officers. CFSOSS will also continue to leverage available data for the development of strategic analysis products, including its annual Firearms Analysis & Strategic Summary (FASS) report to provide an overview of the current national firearms landscape. This work will support partners through the provision of available datasets, including contributions to the Cross-Border Firearms Task Force (CBFTF) with CBSA and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) partners. CFSOSS will continue to collaborate with the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre (CNFTC) partners to implement reporting and analysis tools that will contribute to identifying the source of crime guns in Canada. CFSOSS will also continue in its role within the RCMP to coordinate and enable ITAAGGV activities amongst internal and external horizontal initiative stakeholders.

The RCMP’s National Forensic Laboratory Services (NFLS) will continue to support Canadian law enforcement agencies by providing Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (CIBIN) correlation results including an average turnaround time of five (5) days through the ITAAGGV CIBIN “Lead/No Lead” workflow project. This consists of existing CIBIN partners and expansion to additional agencies who have enrolled in the project. NFLS will continue to support and monitor intelligence-sharing with provincial/territorial partners, while building capacity to support the investigation of firearms offences.

The Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada (CISC) will combine its intelligence analytical functions on guns, gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) due to the interdependencies between OMGs and gangs and their involvement in gun violence with a view to enhancing intelligence-sharing. CISC will also maintain its national working group on gangs and establish a national working group on firearms to inform the threat picture. At least five related assessments are being planned. CISC will also establish a number of limited symposia on guns and gangs with targeted stakeholders to inform policy decision makers.

The RCMP's Federal Policing National Intelligence (FPNI) Firearms Intelligence Analysis (FIA) team will continue to collaborate with law enforcement partners and stakeholders to enhance analytical capacity and understanding in support of developing and producing intelligence products. FIAs will continue to work closely within and across RCMP divisions to bolster the RCMP’s national response to illicit firearms-related criminal activity; including through the establishment of a cross border Homeland Security Investigations – RCMP intelligence sharing working group to meet for the second time in January 2024 and quarterly thereafter.

Frédéric Chartrand

Director, Policy and Program Development Initiatives Unit

Public Safety Canada

frederic.chartrand@ps-sp.gc.ca

Theme outcome(s)

Informed initiatives to prevent and respond to gun and gang violence are implemented across Canada

Enhanced operational responses through intervention, interdiction and enforcement

Stakeholder decision-making is supported by solid data and information on best practices

Public Safety Canada

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Canada Border Services Agency

Total

Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV)

$543,466,842

$125,333,158

Gun and gang violence is reduced

Number of firearm-related homicides

< 223 (2016)

< 297 (2021)

March 31, 2024 then annually^{Footnote 27}

Number of gang-related homicides

<184 (Reduction from 2021 levels)

March 31, 2024, then annually

Investing in Communities

$403,167,148

$80,974,462

Informed initiatives to respond to gun and gang violence are implemented across Canada

Degree to which PT stakeholders report that Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund funding has enabled them to better respond to gun and gang violence in their jurisdictions (in %)

100%

Annually

Percentage of recipients and project partners who have integrated knowledge from funded initiatives into their practice or decision-making

50% at project completion

March 31, 2028^{Footnote 28}

Public Safety Canada

Crime Prevention

Administer Grants and Contributions under the Youth Gang Prevention Fund and the Gun and Gang Violence Fund

$403,167,148

$80,974,462

Communities have capacity to respond to gun and gang violence

New resources dedicated to guns and gangs within  law enforcement

>163 resources (FY 2021 to 2022)

March 31, 2024, then annually

Additional initiatives (e.g., law enforcement, prevention, intervention, action research) dedicated to responding to gun and gang violence are implemented

At least 212

March 31, 2024, then annually

Enhancing Federal Enforcement Capacity within RCMP and CBSA

$131,223,080

$41,333,158^{Footnote 29}

Enhanced operational responses through intervention, interdiction and enforcement

Number of firearms or firearms parts seized.

At least 744 firearms or firearms parts seized^{Footnote 30}

March 31, 2022

Number of intelligence products developed by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that identified or contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms, including smuggling.

TBD^{Footnote 31}

March 31, 2028

Canada Border Services Agency

Commercial-Trade Facilitation & Compliance

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$4,395,265

$779,944

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of packages being screened by the detection technology to be assessed whether they were high risk items, requiring an in depth examination

33%

March 31, 2021

Field Technology Support

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$1,177,080

$151,322

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of packages being screened by the detection technology to be assessed whether they were high risk items, requiring an in depth examination

33%

March 31, 2021

Force Generation

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$1,246,728

$34,139

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of packages being screened by the detection technology to be assessed whether they were high risk items, requiring an in depth examination

33%

March 31, 2021

Intelligence Collection & Analysis

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$2,370,709

$289,583

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of international postal shipments screened using Fixed Postal Small Scale Imaging (SSI) technology which resulted in a referral/examination leading to a seizure

5% increase  over prior year seizure rate

March 31, 2022

Building and Equipment

Intercept illicit guns in postal stream – Dual View X-Rays and Software / Network

$349,331

$64,763

Enhance ability to screen significantly increased volumes of mails items at all postal facilities

Percentage of international postal shipments screened using Fixed Postal Small Scale Imaging (SSI) technology which resulted in a referral/examination leading to a seizure

5% increase  over prior year seizure rate

March 31, 2022

Commercial-Trade Facilitation & Compliance

Force Generation

Detecting Firearms – Detector Dogs

$3,067,662

$664,123

Increased capacity to detect and interdict entry of illicit firearms into the country

Percentage of examinations utilizing Detector Dogs that resulted in a seizure of illicit firearms^{Footnote 32}

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

March 31, 2022

Force Generation

Detecting Firearms – Detector Dogs

$1,380,249

$62,929

Increased capacity to detect and interdict entry of illicit firearms into the country

Percentage of examinations utilizing Detector Dogs that resulted in a seizure of illicit firearms^{Footnote 33}

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

Building and Equipment

Detecting Firearms – Detector Dogs

$275,059

$79,165

Increased capacity to detect and interdict entry of illicit firearms into the country

Percentage of examinations utilizing Detector Dogs that resulted in a seizure of illicit firearms^{Footnote 34}

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

Increase examinations by 155 in Year 2 and continue to maintain or exceed (using baseline information from CBSA data for FY 2017 to 2018)

Building and Equipment

Construction and maintenance of an All-Weather Facility Detector Dogs Training Facility

$11,904,469

$415,328

Increase CBSA capacity to accommodate detector dog training and kenneling needs, year round, while at the training facility resulting in a reduction in costs

Value of costs avoided for kenneling and accommodations at a separate facility by the Detector Dog Program

The All-Weather Facility (AWF) generates $77,000/year in cost-avoidance savings.

March 31, 2023

Targeting

Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification – INTERPOL Interface

$5,596,821

$2,592,888

Enhance the CBSA’s thread identification capability in the public safety and national security threat sectors

Develop a pilot in conjunction with the RCMP that will test the efficacy of automating Interpol query for all inbound air travelers at screening and to bolster CBSA’s inbound air traveller risk assessment activities as they relate to the identification of members of transnational organized crime members.

N/A

N/A

Force Generation

Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification – INTERPOL Interface

$471,750

$296,051

Enhance the CBSA’s thread identification capability in the public safety and national security threat sectors

Develop a pilot in conjunction with the RCMP that will test the efficacy of automating Interpol query for all inbound air travelers at screening and to bolster CBSA’s inbound air traveller risk assessment activities as they relate to the identification of members of transnational organized crime members.

N/A

N/A

Building and Equipment

Transnational Organized Crime Threat Identification – INTERPOL Interface

$26,144

$8,573

Enhance the CBSA’s thread identification capability in the public safety and national security threat sectors

Develop a pilot in conjunction with the RCMP that will test the efficacy of automating Interpol query for all inbound air travelers at screening and to bolster CBSA’s inbound air traveller risk assessment activities as they relate to the identification of members of transnational organized crime members.

Force Generation

Advanced Vehicles Concealment Techniques Course

$529,363

$79,622

Ability to identify, detect and interdict crime guns, weapons, narcotics and illicit proceeds of crime

Number of CBSA officers identified for training who have successfully completed training^{Footnote 35}

Post development:

2% of identified officers to be trained per year

March 31, 2024

Commercial-Trade Facilitation & Compliance

Enhance Air cargo security

$40,652,887

$1,469,541

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technology and % will increase yearly until full installation

March 31, 2025

Field Technology Support

Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$11,601,930

$24,972,030

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technology and % will increase yearly until full installation

March 31, 2025

Force Generation

Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$2,134,907

$30,507

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technology and % will increase yearly until full installation

March 31, 2025

Targeting

Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$345,044

$0

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technology and % will increase yearly until full installation

March 31, 2025

Building and Equipment

Pallet imaging, handheld devices, COMETs and trace detection tools

$534,735

$819,357

Enable the CBSA to increase capacity to examine in the air mode

Percentage of high volume and high risk airports with detection technology installed

20% of identified airports will be equipped with detection technology and % will increase yearly until full installation

March 31, 2025

Internal Services

N/A

$4,796,042

$849,912

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Federal Policing

National Intelligence

Produce intelligence products

$4,198,160^{Footnote 36}

$839,632

Increased operational collaboration

Number of occurrences (e.g., investigations or intelligence probes) worked on by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms smuggling.

TBD^{Footnote 37}

March 31, 2028

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada

Produce intelligence products

$1,235,285^{Footnote 38}

$247,057

Number of intelligence reports produced by CISC that address guns and gangs

TBD^{Footnote 39}

March 31, 2028

Canadian Firearms  Investigative and Enforcement Services

Promote stakeholder engagement, collaboration and outreach

$4,566,845^{Footnote 40}

$913,369

Number of open source intelligence reports created by the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) and shared with partners

225

March 31, 2028

Number of Firearm investigations that were initiated by intelligence products developed by the CFP

228 intelligence reports to initiate firearms investigations were developed in FY 2021 to 2022 by the Firearms Operational Enforcement Support (FOES)

March 31, 2028

Build capacity to prevent and intercept illegal firearms in Canada

$21,670,520^{Footnote 41}

$4,334,104

Enhanced capability to respond to gun and gang violence

The number of individuals that have received training from National Weapons Enforcement Support Teams (NWEST)

4500^{Footnote 42}

March 31, 2028

Forensic Science and Identification Services

Provide tools, equipment and training to prevent entry of illegal commodities

$2,025,600^{Footnote 43}

$405,120

Enhanced capability to respond to gun and gang violence

Percentage of cartridge cases and bullets from Gun and Gang files uploaded to the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (CIBIN) within 90 days

81% (or 2,184) of files completed met 90-day Turnaround time (TAT) standard^{Footnote 44}

(Lead/No Lead^{Footnote 45} : 1,372 requests completed :

• 100% met 90-day TAT

Investigative Aid^{Footnote 46}:

• 114 requests completed
• 92% met 90-day TAT; and IBIS^{Footnote 47}:
• 698 requests completed
• 43% met 90-day TAT)

March 31, 2028

Internal Services

N/A

$4,670,495

$934,099

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Enhancing Federal Leadership

$9,076,614

$3,025,538

Stakeholder decision-making is supported by solid data and information on best practices

Percentage of stakeholders reporting that research and information produced under the ITAAGGV informed their policy and operational decisions

Minimum of 75% by year 3

March 31, 2026

Public Safety Canada

Law Enforcement

Promote data collection and conduct research related to gun and gang violence

$7,346,418

$2,448,806

Improved understanding of threats, challenges and opportunities

Percentage of police services with criminal organization flag data appearing in the Statistics Canada Juristat report compared to number of police services

55% year 1

60% year 2

65% year 3

70% year 4

75% year 5

March 31, 2024, then annually

Number of hits on gun and gang violence items on Public Safety Canada website

At least 70,239 hits on gun and gang violence items and increased on an annual basis

March 31, 2024, then annually

Number of requests for download of reports and research published on Public Safety Canada’s website

At least 8617 requests for downloads of reports and research and increased on an annual basis

March 31, 2024, then annually

Promote stakeholder engagement, collaboration and outreach

Improved awareness and information-sharing among stakeholders

Percentage of surveyed stakeholders that indicate they are aware of the ITAAGGV

Greater or equal to 85% by end of year 2

March 31, 2025

Percentage of stakeholders that have a positive view on the usefulness of research and information-sharing activities undertaken by Public Safety Canada related to gun and gang violence

Minimum 50% by end of year 3

March 31, 2026

Internal Services

N/A

$1,730,196

$576,732

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Theme 1: Investing in Communities through a Grant and Contribution Program

Theme 2: Enhancing Federal Enforcement Capacity within the RCMP and CBSA

Theme 3: Enhancing Federal Leadership by Public Safety Canada

Sub-total

Internal Services

Total, all themes

Funding to Enhance Canada’s Firearm Control Framework (FECFCF)

Public Safety Canada (PS)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Note: Other government departments (e.g., the Department of Justice) are supporting this federal initiative. However they are not captured in this Horizontal Initiative table as they have not received funding through this initiative.

December 2, 2021

March 31, 2026

Escalating firearms-related violence is fueling public concern and giving rise to demands for federal action to curtail the availability of firearms in Canada. The Government has committed to implementing effective firearms-related measures that prioritize public safety to maintain legal access, use and ownership of firearms, prevent the misuse of firearms and reduce gun crime and criminal activity. A balanced approach is required to ensure that efforts to reduce violent crime are focused on those who use firearms for illicit purposes, while not impeding on legal firearm owners.

The shared outcomes for this initiative are as follows:

• Canadians and law enforcement benefit from easier access to and improved delivery of firearms regulatory services;
• Reduce illegal firearm-related activities; and
• Canadian communities are safe from firearm–related crime.

PS provides federal leadership on Canada’s firearms policies, laws, and regulations. Since firearms control is a shared responsibility between the federal government and Canada’s provinces and territories (PTs), the Department also engages and collaborates with its federal partners, PTs, and stakeholders to address firearm-related matters.

Several programs in the RCMP contribute directly to this horizontal initiative. The RCMP is responsible for operations of the Canada Firearms Program (CFP) and the administration of the Firearms Act (the Act) and its regulations. It also provides direct operational and technical firearms-related support to law enforcement across Canada and abroad. The CFP’s mission is to enhance public safety by supporting lawful ownership and use of firearms so as to reduce the risk of harm that results when firearms are misused. To this end, it provides a number of important services to Canadians including screening individuals for eligibility to possess and/or acquire a firearm, licensing businesses that manufacture and sell firearms, and registering restricted and prohibited firearms. Additional support is provided by: National Forensic Laboratory, which can restore serial numbers that aid tracing efforts as well as link seemingly unrelated criminal cases to a single firearm; Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) and its intelligence holdings on known or suspected criminals and criminal groups involved in serious or organized crime, which are accessible to over 380 federal, provincial, and municipal law enforcement and public safety member agencies across Canada; and Federal Policing’s efforts to develop intelligence related to transnational organized crime groups activities related to firearms trafficking and smuggling activities.

The CBSA plays a critical role in detecting and interdicting illicit firearms entering Canada. The CBSA contributes to the Government’s firearm-related commitments through the implementation of a Firearms Strategy focusing on the identification, disruption, interdiction, enforcement, investigation and prosecution of illicit firearms and related activities using an intelligence-led, problem solving and integrated approach. The Firearms Strategy also focuses on partnerships with domestic and international partners in combatting the threat that firearms pose to our community.

The FECFCF will leverage an Assistant Deputy Minister-level committee, co-chaired by PS and RCMP, with participation from the CBSA and other federal partners as the oversight committee for the initiative. The role of the committee will include reviewing the status of various activities within the FECFCF and progress made in meeting targets; making direct adjustments if necessary; and providing overall direction to the implementation of the horizontal initiative.

Additionally, PS will formalize a working group which includes representatives from PS, RCMP, and CBSA in order to ensure excellence in programming, results, financial planning and reporting and horizontal collaboration on meeting Government commitments on firearms.

$206,423,296

$39,233,830

$41,922,574 as per DRR 2022-23

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

FY 2025 to 2026

Public Safety Canada (PS)

In FY 2024 to 2025, Public Safety Canada will continue to develop and implement an awareness campaign based on new firearms-related measures to ensure impacted groups are aware of and understand how to use new tools designed to keep them safe.

Royal Canadian mounter Police (RCMP)

For FY 2024 to 2025, the RCMP will continue to leverage Enhance Canada’s Firearm Control Framework funding and Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence funding to combat illicit firearms activities through intelligence development and analysis focused on the “guns and gangs” priority.

Federal Policing National Intelligence (FPNI)

FPNI Analysis team will continue to collaborate with law enforcement partners and stakeholders to enhance analytical capacity and understanding in support of developing and producing intelligence products. The teams will continue to work closely within and across RCMP divisions to bolster the RCMP’s national response to illicit firearms-related criminal activity. Intelligence Analysts from across the country will assist in investigations, intelligence probes, and collaborate with United States Homeland Security Investigations on a new cross border intelligence sharing initiative.

National Forensic Laboratory Services (NFLS)

The NFLS has designed a workflow separate and apart from routine services that would dedicate qualified staff to identify, isolate and complete related firearms service requests to purposely link and make previously unconnected examinations into a more efficient structured process. Implementation of the workflow will commence in FY 2024 to 2025. Efforts will continue to onboard the remaining FTEs, and to provide required specialized forensic training through FY 2024 to 2025. Scientific instrumentation has been acquired to ensure sufficient throughput capacity and optimized processing times. It is anticipated that this initiative will be operational in FY 2024 to 2025 and results are expected to become apparent at the close of the fiscal year.

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC)

CISC Canada will integrate firearms-related issues into its newly established illicit drugs fusion centre, to better coordinate intelligence sharing on connected issues; undertake topical and value added national strategic firearms threat assessments for operational decision-making bodies, and ensure that firearms related information is collected and shared broadly across the law enforcement community through its Integrated Threat Assessment Process. It will also establish a national illicit firearms working group to enhance sharing, cooperation and deconfliction between operational and intelligence subject matter experts. A Canadian Criminal Intelligence System pilot will be launched and completed in FY 2024 to 2025. Work during the fiscal year will include a “lessons learned” exercise and training opportunities, as well as continued work on the system’s second iteration.

Canadian Firearms Program (CFP)

To enhance service delivery to its clients the CFP will continue to implement the Canadian Firearms Digital Services Solution by providing a digital-first service delivery model while maintaining existing service channels (for example, phone and mail) for those unable to access the digital channel. In FY 2024 to 2025, the CFP will continue to introduce new online services, as well as migrate existing online individual and business services, to a new platform that will improve user experience and enable accessible data. In addition, the Canadian Firearms Program will continue to conduct outreach to law enforcement partners to strengthen information-sharing practices to detect straw purchasing and to counter firearms trafficking and smuggling.

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The CBSA will provide investigative leads to better position the Agency and its law enforcement partners to ensure a more agile response to organized firearm smuggling activities. The Agency has established the National Firearms Intelligence Desk to conduct analysis and liaise with partner organizations. With Royal Assent of Bill C-21, regulatory and policy development work is underway to implement these new measures.

Firearms Policy Division

firearms-armesafeu.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca

Theme outcome(s)

Canadians and law enforcement benefit from easier access to and improved delivery of firearms regulatory services

Illegal firearm-related activity in Canada is reduced

Canadian communities are safe from firearm-related crime

Public Safety Canada

Canada Border Services Agency

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Total

Enhance Canada’s Firearm Control Framework

$206,423,296 

$39,233,830

Firearm-related crime in Canada is reduced

Percent (%) decrease of police reported break and enter to steal a firearm from a residence or motor vehicle

2% annual decrease against baseline (2019: 1,072 incidents reported)

Annually

Percent (%) decrease in the # of violent crime victims as a result of firearm violence

1% reduction from current baseline of approximately 1,500 (2016)

Annually

Percent (%) decrease of firearm-related homicides

1.5% annual decrease against baseline (2019: 263)

Annually

Percent (%) decrease in the # of intimate partner violence victims where a firearm was present

1% reduction from current baseline of 576 (2018)

Annually

Strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms

$76,148,388

$15,696,666

Canadians and law enforcement benefit from easier access to and improved delivery of firearms regulatory services

Percent (%) of licence applications that are processed within established service standards

90% of licence applications that do not require further review complete initial processing within 35 days

FY 2025 to 2026

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Canadian Firearms Program (CFP)

Enhance delivery of CFP services to Canadians and Law Enforcement

$48,257,850 

$9,696,769

Additional regulatory services are available online

Percent (%) of services to Canadians that are newly available online

100% individual & 75% business services available online

FY 2025 to 2026

The target population uses regulatory services online

Percent (%) of newly available services to Canadians that are accessed online

80% individual

50% business

FY 2025 to 2026

Canadians benefit from easy access to regulatory services

Percent (%) of licence applications that are processed within established service standards

90% of licence applications that do not require further review complete initial processing within 35 days

FY 2025 to 2026

IM / IT Sector

Enhance delivery of CFP services to Canadians and Law Enforcement

$27,890,538 

$5,999,897

Canadian Firearms Digital Services Solution replaces Canadian Firearms Information System with a reliable and readily adaptable firearms regulatory IM/IT platform

Percent (%) of times CFP IT Service Desk incidents are resolved within 4 hours (reliability)

80%

(2020: 44%)

FY 2025 to 2026

Percent (%) of application that is covered by automated testing tools for Quality Control (adaptability)

100%

(2020: 0%)

FY 2025 to 2026

Combat illegal firearm-related activities

$88,319,848

$18,138,307

Illegal firearm-related activity in Canada is reduced

Percent (%) increase in the number of firearms seizures attributed to deliberate smuggling and in postal and courier modes

10% smuggling, 5% postal and courier modes

March 31, 2026

Percent (%) change in the number of police-reported incidents of weapons trafficking

10% annual increase for 2-3 years, followed by a 10% annual decrease ongoing (baseline: 20 incidents in 2020)

FY 2025 to 2026

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Canadian Firearms Program

Enhance the ability of the RCMP to trace crime guns and detect bulk/straw purchasing

$6,735,964 

$1,607,034

Law enforcement agencies use regulatory services to combat the unlawful acquisition of firearms

Percent (%) increase in the number of trace requests received annually by the Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre

10-20% increase in the number of trace requests received annually by Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre

FY 2025 to 2026

Law enforcement agencies requests for regulatory services are completed within established service standards

Percent (%) of Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre trace requests completed within established service standard timelines

90% of trace requests completed:

- Within 7 days (for traces where international engagement is not required); or

- Within 90 days (for traces where international engagement is required)

FY 2023 to 2024

National Forensic Laboratory Services

Enhance the ability of the RCMP to trace crime guns and detect bulk/straw purchasing

$6,957,156 

$1,397,958

More serial number restorations and Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network comparisons are completed within 90 days

Percent (%) of serial number restorations and Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network comparisons that are completed within service standard timelines (90 days)

80%

(Historical baseline not relevant as previous service standard was 220 days)

FY 2023 to 2024

Canadian Firearms Program

Enhance capacity of the RCMP to detect, disrupt, and deter firearms smuggling at the border and inland

$1,451,501 

$338,905

Support provided to counter-smuggling partner organizations

Number (#) of firearm inspections, responses to requests for technical advice pertaining to new and emerging technologies including 3D printing, and Firearms Reference Table records completed annually in accordance with established service standard timelines

Complete 280-300 firearm inspections of firearms and related devices annually

Respond to 8,500 to 10,300 service requests for technical advice (excluding firearm inspections)

Create or modify 5,000 to 8,000 Firearms Reference Table records annually

FY 2024 to 2025

Federal Policing

Enhance capacity of the RCMP to detect, disrupt, and deter firearms smuggling at the border and inland

$2,120,337 

$543,184

Enhanced operational responses through intervention, interdiction, enforcement, and increased operational collaboration

Number (#) of intelligence products developed by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that identified or contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms, including smuggling.

Number (#) of occurrences (e.g. investigations or intelligence probes) worked on by Firearms Intelligence Analysts that contributed to identifying possible criminal entities related to firearms smuggling.

Target will be established once resources are in place and baseline data are available

TBD

Criminal Intelligence Services Canada (CISC)

Enhance capacity of the RCMP to detect, disrupt, and deter firearms smuggling at the border and inland

$1,867,894

$436,880

Increase in the number of CISC assessed organized crime groups involved in firearms smuggling and trafficking

Proportion (%) of organized crime groups involved in firearms smuggling and trafficking that are assessed based on CISC’s Integrated Threat Assessment Process.

75%

(Baseline: 16%)

March 31, 2025

$33,443,136

$6,960,371

Enhance the ability of CISC members to target and coordinate enforcement operations related to Serious and Organized Crime, including firearms-related crime

Number (#) of Canadian Criminal Intelligence System document uploads

Number (#) of Canadian Criminal Intelligence System queries and number (#) of Canadian Criminal Intelligence System users

Target will be established once Canadian Criminal Intelligence System is implemented

Baselines (2020):

• 31,455 Automated Criminal Intelligence Information System Document Uploads;
• 2,074,139 Automated Criminal Intelligence Information System Queries;
• 2,158 Automated Criminal Intelligence Information System Users

Date to achieve target will be established once Canadian Criminal Intelligence System is implemented

Canada Border Services Agency

Criminal Investigations Intelligence Collection & Analysis

Enhanced Intelligence and Investigative Capacity

$14,171,385

$2,971,380

Firearm smuggling is reduced in Canada

Percent (%) increase in the number of  prima facie crime guns (as defined in CBSA’s analytical lexicon), including as applicable, firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition

10%

March 31, 2024

Percent (%) increase in the number of firearms seizures in postal and courier modes

5%

March 31, 2024

The CBSA detects, disrupts and deters the smuggling of firearms

Number (#) of complex or high-risk firearms smuggling intelligence referrals to Criminal Investigations or law enforcement partners.

5

March 31, 2024

Percent (%) increase in the number of CBSA firearms analytical intelligence products

10%

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of complex firearms smuggling investigations opened by the CBSA Criminal Investigations

20^{Footnote 48}

March 31, 2024

The CBSA has the capacity to detect, disrupt and deter the smuggling of firearms

Personnel identified, hired and trained. Terms of reference and outreach completed

8 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)

Completed

(FTEs are fully operational

Personnel identified, hired and trained

14 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)

Completed

(FTEs are fully operational

Management & Oversight

Legislative, regulatory and policy development

$7,176,014 

$1,586,884

Senior management and officials understand the impact of federal firearms legislative, regulatory and policy developments on the CBSA’s operations

Number (#) of firearms-related briefing products provided to CBSA senior management and officials

TBD^{Footnote 49}

March 31, 2024

The CBSA’s legislative and regulatory authorities allow it to support broader government direction and intent concerning the cross-border movement of firearms

Number (#) of new and amended laws enacted and regulations established

 TBD^{Footnote 50}

March 31, 2024

Field Technology Support

Threat Detection at Borders

$7,289,850

$1,055,985

Deploy handheld x-rays to increase operational capacity to efficiently examine goods and conveyances

20 handheld x-ray units will be deployed and officers trained at selected ports of entry

20 units^{Footnote 51}

March 31, 2024

Comm. Trade Facilitation & Compliance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Identification and AI Threat Detection in Parcels

$1,565,415

$0

Developed AI solution ensures successful detection of gun and gun parts with significant reliability of minimizing false positives and negatives

Percent (%) of times the developed model is able to accurately recognize the presence or absence of items of interest in an image

70%^{Footnote 52}

Completed

Internal Services

N/A

$5,541,196

$1,239,726

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearm programs

$41,955,060

$5,398,857

Canadian communities are safe from firearm –related crime

Number (#) of new and amended laws developed and regulations established

3 per year baseline (FY 2020 to 2021)

Annually

Number (#) of Canadians who indicate they have or will take action due to viewing/hearing the awareness campaign ads

Meet or surpass 10% of polled respondents indicating that they took action as a result of the ads

March 31, 2024

Public Safety Canada

Law Enforcement and Policing

Public Awareness Campaign^{Footnote 53}

$4,388,244

$347,061

Canadian general population are aware of GC initiatives to reduce gun violence and new laws and regulations related to firearms in Canada.

Number (#) of Canadians who can recall seeing a firearms-related ad

Meet or surpass GC benchmarks for campaign specific unaided recall (33%) and aided recall (30%).

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of impressions (the total number of campaign content that was displayed or broadcast) across all advertising platforms

Achieve or surpass 2 million impressions across all advertising platforms annually

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of times Canadians clicked through ads to the Canada.ca/firearms website

Achieve or surpass GC benchmark for click through rate by 1% for digital advertising during campaign

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of visits to the Canada.ca/firearms website

Achieve or surpass 75,000 visits per year

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of products downloaded or ordered for use by partners

Achieve or surpass 100 units distributed to or downloaded by partners

March 31, 2024

The Canadian general population take action to address factors contributing to firearms violence in Canada.

Number (#) of Canadians who indicate they have or will take action due to viewing/hearing the awareness campaign ads

Meet or surpass 10% of polled respondents indicating that they took action as a result of the ads

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of partners engaged through official MOUs and/or alternate partnership agreements

Achieve or surpass at least one partnership in each of the following categories:

1. Retail; and

2. Non-profit government organization

March 31, 2024

Number (#) of times Canadians engage or share campaign content on social media

Achieve or surpass 500 engagements on shares on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)

March 31, 2024

The Canadian general population are compliant with laws and regulations related to firearms in Canada.

Number (#) of adults charged with unsafe storage of a firearm

5% decrease from baseline (2019: 394)

March 31, 2026

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$6,571,066

$634,941

Stakeholders and partners participate in policy development and law enforcement and policing initiatives

Percent (%) of attendance at formal meetings involving stakeholders and partners that take place regularly

80%

Annually

Senior management and officials understand the issues and trends on firearms-related crime, and the policy and regulatory options to address issues.

Number (#) of policy and decision making documents developed

TBD

Annually

Number (#) of policy documents that reference research evidence

TBD

Annually

Legislation is developed establishing regulations to promote lawful access, use and ownership of firearms.

Number (#) of new and amended laws developed and regulations established

3 per year

Annually

Law Enforcement and Policing

Research

$1,250,000 

$250,000

Statistics Canada have the capacity to conduct metrics-related activities and produce reports on firearms-related crime.

Percent (%) budget utilization (StatsCan)

100%

FY 2024 to 2025

Statistics Canada conduct metrics-related activities and produce reports on firearms-related crime.

Number (#) of new datasets created

9

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of knowledge products produced on firearms-related crime

82

FY 2024 to 2025

Canadians have access to timely and accurate information on firearms-related crime.

Number (#) of downloads of Statistics Canada Data Tables on firearms-related crime

4,727

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of downloads of Statistics Canada Publications on firearms-related crime

4,133

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of page views of Statistics Canada Data Tables on firearms-related crime

168,906

FY 2024 to 2025

Number (#) of page views of Statistics Canada Publications on firearms-related crime

187,186

FY 2024 to 2025

Internal Services^{Footnote 54}

N/A

$8,520,544

$1,357,534

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Canadian Firearms Program

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$723,292

$0

RCMP support to the PS-led development of policy instruments to seek funding for the firearms buyback program

PS-led Memorandum to Cabinet is considered by Cabinet Ministers

100%

TBD

Strategic Policy & Integration

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$168,789

$0

RCMP support to the PS-led development of policy instruments to seek funding for the firearms buyback program

PS-led Memorandum to Cabinet is considered by Cabinet Ministers

100%

TBD

IM/IT Sector

Legislative and Regulatory Work

$697,045

$0

RCMP support to the PS-led development of policy instruments to seek funding for the firearms buyback program

PS-led Treasury Board Submission is considered by Treasury Board Ministers

100%

TBD

Internal Services

N/A

$19,636,080

$2,809,321

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Theme 1: Strengthen services to support the lawful acquisition, ownership and use of firearms

Theme 2: Combat illegal firearm-related activities

Theme 3: Enhance firearms policy advice and promote awareness of firearm programs

Subtotal

Internal Services

Total, all themes