Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Firearms Act
Enabling Act(s)
An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms (formerly Bill C-71)
Description
The proposed changes under the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Firearms Act will amend the Conditions of Transferring Firearms and Other Weapons Regulations to prescribe, in the case of the transfer of a non-restricted firearm, the information that the transferee (person acquiring) must provide to the transferor (person selling/giving) to allow for firearms licence verification (i.e. to ensure the licence is valid). Further, the amendment will prescribe the period of validity of a reference number issued by the Registrar signifying that the licence is valid (the transferor would obtain a reference number by querying an online portal).
The Firearms Licences Regulations will be amended to prescribe the following for businesses, in relation to non-restricted firearms:
- the information to be kept on the firearm and the buyer;
- the period of time for which this information must be kept; and,
- the official to whom the records must be sent should the business cease to be a business (e.g. bankruptcy).
The Firearms Licences Regulations will also be amended in relation to the retention period for business transfer records, and concerning the destruction of business records by the prescribed official.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
Persons, including businesses, will have to verify firearms licences prior to transferring non-restricted firearms. Businesses will also be required to maintain inventory and sales records for non-restricted firearms. Costs could be incurred by businesses that do not currently keep inventories.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
N/A
Consultations
The Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee was consulted on elements of the Act in 2017, prior to its introduction in March 2018, including licence verification and business record-keeping. Further, stakeholders had an opportunity to appear before, and provide submissions to, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security and the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence when Bill C-71 was under review by Parliament.
Further consultations with stakeholders were conducted through the publication of the proposed regulations in The Canada Gazette Part I which was posted on June 26, 2021.
Further information
N/A
Departmental contact information
Firearms Policy
Crime Prevention Branch
ps.firearms-armesafeu.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
April 2021.
- Date modified: